A Garibaldian in the Convent (Italian: Un garibaldino al convento) is a 1942 Italian historical comedy drama romantic film directed by Vittorio De Sica and starring Leonardo Cortese, María Mercader and Carla Del Poggio. It is considered to be the work with which De Sica concludes the series of light comedies largely set in colleges and institutions for young girls and period costumes to enter into films of more contemporary and popular settings that will result in post-war neorealistic works. It was screened in November 1991 as a part of a retrospective of De Sica's films at the Museum of Modern Art. It was shot at the Palatino Studios in Rome. The film's sets were designed by the art director Veniero Colasanti.
Plot
In the early years of the 20th century, a grandmother tells the story of a picture to her grandchildren of how many years before, in 1860, she and her rival María Mercader as Mariella Dominiani, were both students of the convent of Santa Rossana. But their lives change when a wounded Garibaldi soldier, Count Amidei is hid on the grounds by the custodian of the convent, Tiepolo. Mariella is engaged to the soldier and cares for him. But the soldier is discovered and the nuns report him to opposing soldiers, who come after him. Tiepolo, and Mariella desperately try to stop them and barricade themselves with the soldier. Here, young Carla Del Poggio as Caterinetta Bellelli jumps on a horse and is chased by the soldiers. But she reaches Garibaldi's lines and with the help of Vittorio De Sica as Nino Bixio leads then back to the convent, and gets Count Amidei back to friendly lines. However, he later dies in battle.
As the grandmother, (who is Caterinetta) finishes the story, her friend Mariella arrives, who has never married, and the granddaughters, look upon understanding now.