Book excerpt: Ettore Scola was one of Italian cinema's most prolific writer-directors, known for his ironic wit and interest in microcosms of humanity within historical contexts. Though many of his films are classics in his native Italy, his work is less known overseas than that of his contemporaries. This book modestly hopes to spread some awareness of his movies by charting his rich and varied filmography; from his early directorial works starring the likes of Vittorio Gassman, through his early collaborations with Marcello Mastroianni, the landmark masterpiece A Special Day and his later works, such as What Time Is It? Splendor, and his tribute to Fellini, How Strange It Is to Be Named Federico.