RT did a write up of this some time ago. It’s Pasolini’s second film featuring life among Italian peasantry, specifically, Anna Magnani as the archetypal Mediterranean mother. It’s a full circle performance from Magnani, who’s turn in Rosellini’s Open City featured and symbolized a post-WWII matriarchal force. Here, she’s a former street walker attempting to make a new life with her teenage son. Pasolini emphasizes the tragedy inherent in Magnani’s situation, particularly, the self-perpetuating cycle of poverty and despair, to full effect here. He fuses the political and the artistic with iconic imagery, but was probably more successful (overall) with his next film, The Gospel Acoording To Saint Matthew.
by Marlin Tyree | Source: Criterion Collection
31 May 2007 7:08 PM | Submit Comment
