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Though the English translation of Padre I Figli is Fathers and Son, the film bears no resemblance to the Russian novel of the same name. Set in the weeks just prior to Christmas, the story focuses on the Yuletide preparations made by five different families. The humor derives from the communication gap between the elder family members and their bewildering offspring. The powerhouse cast is headed by Vittorio de Sica and Marcello Mastrioanni. Because of this, and the universality of the film's theme, Padre I Figli did quite well in the U.S.