STORIA DI UNA DONNA (THE STORY OF A WOMAN)
US/Italy, 1970, 90 minutes, Colour.
Bibi Andersson, Robert Stack, James Farentino, Annie Girardot.
Directed by Leonardo Bercovici.
The Story of a Woman is a very emotional film. With an international cast, it has Bibi Andersson as a woman struggling with her relationships with two men, played by Robert Stack and James Farentino. Set amidst beautiful Italian settings, Rome and Cortina, the film probes the dilemma of the woman and her final decisions.
1. The tone of the title, its appeal? The emphasis for a feminine audience? A woman's picture?
2. What constitutes a woman's picture? Aspects of plot and characterisation, situation, emotions? Why is this genre looked down on by critics? Was this a good example of the genre? The emphases of the 60s compared with previous decades?
3. The importance of colour, Roman locations, Sweden, America? The finale in the snowfields at Cortina? How real a world was this, the world of glossy magazine stories?
4. The focus on Karin? Could the audience identify with her? Was she an interesting character, her experiences interesting? Sympathetic? Typical? Her strengths as a woman, her weaknesses?
5. Response to the contrived accident at the start? An introduction to ordinary people, to Karin and her work as a student in Rome? The introduction to Bruno and his Italian charm? (A genuine Italian, or an American-style Italian?) How well did the film show their growing relationship, their sharing Interests, the sensual aspects of their love? The romanticizing of it, the running through fields...? The counterpoint with Karin and her musical work? Her ability to cope with the affair? The effect on Bruno and the genuineness of his love for her?
6. The impact of the revelation that Bruno was married? Audience like or dislike of Liliana? The way that she hurt Karin? The impact of the truth on Karin? The encounter with Bruno outside the apartment? Their bickering during the drive? The reason for Liliana’s death? The effect on Bruno? The irony of his letters being unanswered?
7. How well did Karin cope when she returned home? The picturing of her in lonely landscapes? The effect of the affair and the breaking of it? How well did she cope and get over it? How well did she think she did?
8. Another chance encounter with David? David and his contrast with Bruno? The reliability of his work, his background? A gentleman and courteous? His entering Into Karin's family and their celebrations? The genuineness of his marriage proposal? Her wanting to tell the truth? Her love for him? The transfer to America, the swift transition in time to show how they had established the marriage, child, status?
9. The importance of the theme of telling the truth? Was this credible behaviour on Karin's part? Was it inevitable that she should begin to tell lies? The effect on her, on David?
10. Audience anticipation of Karin's meeting Bruno again as the plane went towards Rome? The chance encounter at the party, his pursuit of her? Her trying to cope by returning to her music? Her not telling her husband the full truth? Seeing Bruno at the football and David's sharing in this? The sequence on the holiday and his saving the child, his football injury and Karin's visiting the hospital? What did she discover about her emotions?
11. The effect of Bruno on Karin, her moodiness, her lies and confusion? The effect on him and the reawakening of his love, without any ties?
12. The effect on David, the credibility of his patience, the transition to anger when he confronted Karin? Should he have done otherwise? Was he too angry?
13. Was the snow holiday a good thing? What was revealed about their love, about each of them, to each other? The credibility of Karin's final decision? The impulsiveness of Bruno's death?
14. How realistic was the uniting of husband and wife at the end? A basis for a future?
15. How typical of the plot ingredients of a women's picture? Did it transcend the ingredients? What values about life, marital relationships, affairs did the film presuppose in its audience?
