Music plays an essential role in the films of the Taviani brothers. It's like having another actor. Composer Nicola Piovani knows something about this having worked with them on some of their movies. He also composed the soundtrack for the movie La Vita è Bella (Life is Beautiful) with Roberto Benigni.

De Sica is generous with Domenico. Later on, seated on the curb with his friend, Domenico borrows a guitar from a "blind" person nearby and sings a song he wrote.

Nanni Moretti tells about how he got to see Caesar Must Die before it was released. The composer, Giuliano Taviani talks about how he became interested in writing music for film, and how budget limits actually inspired him in writing the music for this movie.

Domenico happens to get a glimpse of Vittorio De Sica himself and chases him down to ask him for a part.

The Taviani brothers, at around eighty years of age, feel like they have gone back to their more reckless early days, with Caesar Must Die.

Domenico begins recounting his second (and best) year at the Experimental Center in Rome. One reason it was his best year is that he met a very special person.

Saverio Marconi talks about the job of an actor. Nanni Moretti tells of an embarrassing moment on the set of a movie he was making with the Taviani brothers. Vittorio and Paolo Taviani talk about why they shot Caesar Must Die in black and white.

In the present, Domenico is describing his life in Rome to his audience. There are flashbacks to the reality of those times.

The Taviani brothers, as well as others in the filmmaking world, talk about what acting means, and how each actor brings something different to telling the story.

Domenico gives a moving performance of one of his songs at the circolo (club), and meets Raimondo Lanza di Trabia, who is there with the actress/princess he had seen at the convent.

Isabelle Huppert talks (in French) about the craziness of the film and the Taviani brothers talk about the character of their male protagonist and why they set the film in Tuscany, even though the story is German.

While the hopeful actors are waiting at the gates of Cinecittà for a bit part, a famous actor drives out and causes a stir. Back at the convent, Domenico sings a song about a cricket in love with the moon. If you want to hear the whole song sung by Modugno, check it out here.

The Taviani brothers talk about their movie The Elective Affinities, based on a novel by Goethe. Central to the film is the conflict between reason and passion, nature and the idea of utopia, as the love stories of two couples unfold.

Domenico does his audition in front of the movie camera. Then he has to figure out how to make enough money to pay for his room and board. His new friend Riccardo gives him a couple of important tips.

Although their films weren't overtly political, the Taviani brothers saw and heard what was "in the air" in Italy, and somehow captured some the essence of it, without even being aware of it.