THE LITTLE WORLD OF DON CAMILLO

France/Italy, 1952, 106 minutes, Black and white.
Fernandel, Gino Cervi, Sylvie, Manara, Vera Talqui.
Directed by Julien Duvivier

The Little World of Don Camillo is something of a classic. Made in Italy in 1952 by French director Julien Duvivier (whose career had spanned the '30s to the '50s in France and in Hollywood - Tales of Manhattan, Flesh and Fantasy, Lydia).

The film comes from the period of Italian neo-realism and uses realistic settings of the Po Valley, small villages and their way of life in the late '40s and early '50s.

The film and its sequels were taken from very popular novels by Giovanni Guareschi. They were popular, not only in Italy, but also in English translations all over the world.

The film also has great strength from the presence and style of French comedian Fernandel as Don Camillo. Gino Cervi is very good as Peppone, the Catholic communist mayor who is in continual clash with Don Camillo.

The film offers wise, if lightly touched on, comment on the strange clash between Catholics and communists in Italy as well as the strength of both traditions in single individuals. This was strengthened, of course, by the experience of World War II and the partisans. The film echoes this tradition.

Of interest is the continued conversation that Don Camillo has with Jesus, pictured as the crucifix in the church, above the altar. Jesus continually chides Don Camillo and offers a great deal of wise and humane advice about ordinary living, the behaviour of priests, the role of the church, the role of politics - and not getting too het up about communism. There were several other versions of Don Camillo, including a German Italian co-production with Brian Blessed and Mario Adorf.

1.The popularity of the Don Camillo stories and movies? Echoing the '40s and '50s? In Italy, around the world? The themes of religion and communism? The strange blend of Catholicism and politics in Italy, especially the north?

2.The voice-over and the commentary on the Po Valley, on towns, on the uniqueness of the behaviour of the villagers in this town, on the events and on people?

3.The black and white photography, the Po Valley, the village, the authentic and realistic atmosphere? The musical score?

4.The post-war period, the memory of the partisans and their fight against the Nazis? The Christian Democrats and their emerging into power, the role of the Italian Communist Party? People as both communists and Catholics? The traditions of the church and its oppression? Rebellion against the church? The opening with the election and the popular response to the communists, to Peppone? The celebrations - and Don Camillo's boycotting them and ringing the bells?

5.The portrait of Don Camillo, Fernandel's appearance and comic style? The typical Italian priest, his soutane and biretta, his way of speaking? In the church, anti communist, the reaction to the election, the ringing of the bells? His being bashed and his throwing the eggs at his assailant? His personal confessions - and his manipulating the sports matches, offering bribes? The traditional people considering him a bolshevik priest? His relationship with people, the ringing of the bells, his assistant, the baptism of Peppone's boy, Gina and her wanting to marry, the family feuds, the sports matches and the injured umpire, the building of the people's palace, the carnival - and his head there being available for knocking down? Mrs Christina and her teaching, her death? His going on holiday, the reaction of the bishop - and his wanting people to farewell him and their not being there?

6.The importance of the conversations between Don Camillo and Jesus, the device of the voice-over, the figure on the crucifix? Don Camillo and his conversations with Jesus, prayer, natural? His defending himself - and Jesus attacking him? The humour and wisdom of Jesus' stances on the church, money, bribes, politics? His jokes? His genial humanism - even about Reds?

7.Peppone as mayor, the partisan tradition, his place in the village, his family? Winning the election, his loyal fans? Speeches, the birth of the baby? The Catholic tradition, the baptism - and the names of Camillo and Lenin? His reaction to the ringing of the bells, the fistfight with Don Camillo with the bells? His confession - after 30 years? The story about the eggs? The pleasant chats with Don Camillo, walking the village, sharing so much - yet the official antagonism? Sport, family feuds? The communist farewell at the railway station?

8.Christina, the teacher, the member of the opposition, her loyalty to the king, the extreme Right stances, her death and her final words?

9.Gina, her fiancee, their political clashes, meeting at the fence, their arguments? The Romeo and Juliet overtones? Coming to Don Camillo and wanting to marry, yet their arguments? The families, cantankerous, coming to Don Camillo - and accusing him of being a bolshevik?

10.The people in the village, their loyalties? The men on the council and their having to work in the fields, not being able to write properly - and coming to Christina, her lessons? Jesus explaining this to Don Camillo - and his putting graffiti on the notices?

11.The range of comedy and its light touch? Dialogue, situations, characters?

12.The two farewells - of the Catholics and of the communists and their loyalty to Don Camillo? A symbol of the contradictions in Italian Catholicism?