Italians voted to retain the newly granted right to obtain a divorce, dating from 1970, in Italy's first public referendum. The vote was 59% in favor of retention of the law.
Italian divorce or the lack of it, had actually been the theme of an Italian movie of several yeas prior, at the time that Italian movies and bombshell actresses were a big thing. In the film, which I've never seen, apparently Ferdinando Cefalù, placed by Marcello Mastroianni, is married a 37-year-old impoverished Sicilian nobleman when he falls in love with his cousin Angela, a 16-year-old girl he sees only during the summer.
Ick.
So he starts to plot to kill his wife, and it goes on from there.
I don't think I'll bother to catch it.
Mastroianni is an interesting character, as his own marriage failed due to his infidelities, but he and his wife remained married throughout his life. Asked once about it, he was horrified when it was suggested he should divorce, noting that he was Catholic and Catholics do not divorce.
Daniela Rocca, who played the devoted wife in the film, actually was rendered mentally unstable during it, and attempted to commit suicide. Stefania Sandrelli, who played the 16-year-old love interest, and ultimately unfaithful second wife, was actually only 14 years old when she played the part.
Leyla Qasim, became the first woman to be executed by Saddam Hussein's regime. She was one of five Kurds charged with attempting to hijack and airplane and plotting to kill the Iraqi leader.
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