DECLARATION OF LOVE
Italy, 1994, 91 minutes, Colour.
Angiola Baggi, Valeria Fabrizi, Delia Boccardo.
Directed by Pupi Avati.
Declaration of Love is an autobiographical film by Pupo Avati (We Three, The Story of Boys and Girls, Bik). It is a nostalgic look at Bologna in 1948, the director's own memoir, the family and the life in the apartment block, his infatuation. However, there is a complexity with the focus on the young girl and her later life, his wondering what happened to her, her memories intermingling with his and the tragedy of her marriage and death.
The film re-creates its atmosphere lovingly, has a range of eccentric characters (perhaps too many for the film). It echoes the politics and religion and the discussions of post-war Italy, the Christian Democrats, the Communists, the role of the clergy and Catholic tradition. It is an interesting evocation of Italian life.
1. Portrait of a family, personal memoir, nostalgia with bitterness?
2. Bologna in the late '40s, the re-creation of the atmosphere, the town, interiors and exteriors? The contrast with the bright colours of the later decades?
3. The credits, the evocation of films of the period, the title, the range of songs and musical score?
4. The opening with Sandra's death, her memories? Seeing Sandra but through Eduardo's eyes? Her later going to the gynaecologist and talking with him in the street? The picture of the jealousy of her husband, her memories of her lovers, the violent quarrel and the brutality of her death? The effectiveness of this ironic structure with the nostalgic memories?
5. Eduardo's story, as an adolescent boy, rites of passage, the atmosphere of the '40s, post-war, his education, his family?
6. The portrait of the extended family, the people in the apartment block, the range of characters and their being introduced?
7. The portrait of Eduardo, the initial circle (and the film coming full circle with this scene at the end)? The forfeit, Paul's reaction, Sandra kissing him? His stealing the money and giving her the violets? The meal sequences - and then his mother's reaction to his stealing? Going to confession? His class work, going to the principal of the new school, the different classes and the range of subjects, Latin, Literature, Algebra, Grecian Education...? The range of teachers and their learning style, questions, rote? His friends at school, the reaction of the boys in class? The plan to kiss Loretta, following her to and fro, stealing the maid's money, buying her the encyclopaedia? The visit of the teacher to his home? His seeing Sandra at various times? The range of experiences in the family - for example, his aunt's death and preparation for her burial? The couple and their daughter upstairs and their being communists?
8. The portrait of Eduardo's parents, the mother and her care, the father and his fastidiousness, wine, art, hobbies? Treatment of his children?
9. Aunt Gaby, her fiance being lost in the war, her trousseau and dressing up, the lawyer's arrival, falling in love with him?
10. The aunt whose husband was lost on the Russian front, his return, wanting to separate, in love with someone else, the family arranging the reconciliation, the bridal dress?
11. The aunt who was the teacher, never marrying, the hair on her face, her death, being prepared for burial, the family homage?
12. The family upstairs, the mute and his tailor's work? His wife and her fervour? The young girl not baptised? The delivery of Unita each Sunday? The dances in the courtyard?
13. The visiting aunt, her communist husband, her bus trip and being converted to communism? Her coming back to the home and her anti Christian Democrat stances?
14. The neighbour with his film about the brain operation and showing it to various guests?
15. Sandra, the portrait, the boys, Paolo, losing her virginity, her marrying him?
16. 35 years later, her troubled life, her memories, her daughter and her child, the confrontation with Paul, everybody looking on, his killing her and himself?
17. A satisfying memoir, nostalgia and happiness, bitterness and regret?
