TWO FRIENDS
Italy, 2002, 86 minutes, Colour.
Francesco Sframeli, Spiro Scimone, Teresa Sapon Angelo.
Directed by Francesco Sframeli and Spiro Scimone.
Two Friends won several awards at the Venice film festival in 2002. Co-written by the directors, the film is a portrait of two middle-aged men, migrants from Sicily, living in the north, in Turin. The film paints the two characters very vividly, incisively at times in their different characters, their personal styles, their interactions, the nature of their friendship.
The film is particularly Italian in tone and style – but offers interesting insights into human nature.
1. The work of the two authors, writers, actors? Directors?
2. The Turin settings, the streets, home, the shops, the factory? The atmosphere of the streets and the transport? The musical score? The songs, especially those on the radio?
3. A portrait of two men in middle age, their experiences of life, facing death, hopes, despair, friendship?
4. The dialogue and its humorous style, deadpan retorts, the characters (sometimes even caricatures)?
5. The portrait of Nuncio, his age, experience, from Sicily, pushing the car with his friends, going to work every day, the paint, the dangers, the chemicals, his cough, taking the pills, their hope? Not seeing a doctor? Praying to the Sacred Heart and asking for a miracle? His room, meals, a confined life? The portrait of his fellow workers, their pushing the car, the theories about the car going? Their concern about Nuncio?
6. The portrait of Pino, silent, his age from Sicily, mysterious, things under control? The meals, his breakfast in the bar, his room? The discussion with Nuncio about people wearing shoes in the sleepers in trains? Seeing people act on the next trip? His returns and Nuncio not able to go with him?
7. The delivery of the fish, the fishmonger, the photos of the hits, Pino's reaction? His deciding to give up, confronting the fishermen? The last one - Nuncio?
8. Nuncio and his meeting Maria, the broken radio, pawning his communion medal, buying another radio, helping the person in the street, the chase and the stolen radio? The providence of seeing Maria in the shop? The visit with the new radio, the toy? His build-up to a visit, Pino helping him, buying the blue coat? The flowers and his awkwardness? The bigger toy? The report of his conversation about all the relatives in the family? His being prepared to meet Maria, going in the bus, seeing her get in with Andrea, his hurt?
9. The world of the bar, the two men doing the continued crosswords? Andrea, his good spirits, ringing the radio station, playing the records for Maria, happy? Maria phoning him?
10. The landlord, his deadpan approach, his health, fearing death, asking for the rent, coming back another day, the broken doorbells? The young boy, his father the concierge and the theory about the broken doorbells?
11. Going to the prostitute, Pino helping Nuncio, selecting Angela, Nuncio and his response, wanting to see her every night, her rejection?
12. Going to the doctor, the tests, the man in the waiting-room and his pessimism, Pino and his not being able to tell Nuncio the truth, Nuncio in the hospital bed, the man offering him the chance to escape? His return home?
13. Pino promising that Nuncio could go on the next trip, getting the photo for the next hit? Their going off together - would they both live or die? A portrait of friendship?
