This is an atrocious quality print - like it's just been transferred from an ancient video copy. It's been chopped into 4:3. It's also dubbed into English. Avoid and wait for the Criterion edition to come out.
I too was disappointed to find it in English. There should be some notification if the copy is dubbed. I didn't know what to make of the picture quality - whether it only existed as poor quality. The historic footage at the start is often impossibly dark. It's a very interesting film with a great performance by Sophia Loren but the copy is of substandard quality.
Just to back-up VW's comments - which I wish I'd seen before borrowing the film. The rented disc is a terrible copy - extremely jumpy and next to unwatchable. Best avoided - unless a better edition/ copy is available. Spoiled what should be a good film. (I'd prefer Cinema Paradiso not to list/ supply poor quality film copies, than have to watch poor discs that spoil the experience, please).