The Seduction of Mimi

The Seduction of Mimi
Directed by	Lina Wertmüller
Produced by	Romano Cardarelli Daniele Senatore
Written by	Lina Wertmüller
Starring	Giancarlo Giannini
Music by	Piero Piccioni
Cinematography	Dario Di Palma
Edited by	Franco Fraticelli
Production company	Euro International Film
Distributed by	New Line Cinema (US)
Release date	19 February 1972 (Italy)
Running time	121 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	Italian

Mimí metallurgico ferito nell'onore (1972) is an Italian language film directed by Lina Wertmüller, starring Giancarlo Giannini as Mimi and featuring Mariangela Melato, Turi Ferro, and Agostina Belli. It was released in the United States as The Seduction of Mimi, although a literal translation of the title would be "Mimi the metalworker, wounded in honor". The film was entered into the 1972 Cannes Film Festival.The screenplay was very loosely adapted for the 1977 film Which Way Is Up? starring Richard Pryor.

Set in both Sicily and mainland Italy, the film follows the adventures of a man nicknamed Mimi (Giancarlo Giannini). Mimi is a poor labourer who is pressured by his employers to vote for the mafia candidate in a local election. Frustrated by the system and assured that the ballot will be secret Mimi votes for the communist representative instead. However he is fired and assured he will never work again as the ballot was not secret. Disgusted Mimi flees to Turin, while his wife, Rosalia, stays in Sicily.

In Turin Mimi finds illegal construction work. When he witnesses one of the labourers falling to his death he helps the man into a van thinking that he is being brought to the hospital. When he discovers that his mafia bosses actually plan on dumping the body he tells him that his wife is the goddaughter of Liggio, a powerful mafioso. As a result he is given a good union job at a factory. He also becomes further embroiled with the communist party.

One day Mimi sees the beautiful Fiore on the street selling sweaters. When she and her friend are attacked he helps them and learns that she is a trotskyist. When they walk in the park he kisses her and then attempts to grope her. Fiore fends him off and says that she is a virgin and will not make love with a man until she falls in love. Mimi continues to see her until finally, heartbroken he tells her that he loves her but cannot bear to be around her as he feels she will never return his love. Fiore finally tells him she loves him back. Aware that Mimi is married, Fiore nevertheless takes him as a lover and finally becomes pregnant, giving birth to a son, Mimi.