CAMMINA, CAMMINA

Italy, 1983, 171 minutes, Colour.
Alberto Fumagalli, Antonio Cucciarre.
Directed by Ermano Olmi.

Even a devout Catholic director like Ermanno Olmi used the pilgrimage as a source of satiric critique of Christianity. In his Cammina, Cammina, where he re-enacts the journey of the Magi in Italianate style. He uses it as a symbol of various attitudes to discipleship. Some of the pilgrims refuse to go. Others grumble and are critical. Others drop out, while others persevere in order to see a miracle. It throws light on the attitudes of the people towards the Jesus they want to find.

1. A gospel allegory? Reflecting on the gospel story? Reflecting on the gospel message? Comments on Christianity – Italian style?

2. The work of the director, his range of films, stories of Italy, stories of faith and searching for faith?

3. The landscapes, the people in the locations, the use of tableau, moving tableau, action, close-ups, night and day, light and dark? The colour, creating the period, the costumes? The towns and cities?

4. The musical score, the blend of hymns, traditions, classics, the cantatas?

5. The Nativity Play, the prologue, audience knowledge of the story? Audience response? The events, but the events being acted by these people, characters? The announcement of the play? Reality and imagination? Olmi and his role in writing, directing, interpreting?

6. The credits, the people, getting the costumes, suitable or not, their interactions amongst themselves? Audience response to them, a touch of the rabble as well as earnest pilgrims?

7. The interpretation, the Gospel of St Matthew, the readings, the additions from the Lukan infancy narratives? Mel and scholarship? The story, the background of the Old Testament, the search for Jesus and his meaning? The use of the journey, the return? As to be interpreted by the audience?

8. Olmi and his belief in Jesus, God and human, saviour, peace, coming to be with us, cosmic? Gentle, ideal, the paradoxes? With the journey? The demands, the gifts, adoration? The contradictions? Children an understanding? The role of the priests, rebels, reality, glorified, Jesus betrayed, suffering and dying?

9. The role of the church, the clergy, history, the Vatican?

10. The literal journey through northern Italy, terrain, backgrounds, the feel of the journey?

11. The journey of the Magi? The character of Mel, his age, appearance, leadership, with the crowds, paralleling the Magi and the Gospels? The meeting with the other two Magi, the discussions?

12. The offscreen meeting with Herod? The consequences? Going to find Jesus – and Mel escaping away, not staying to support Jesus and the persecution?

13. The little boy, Rupo, talking with Mel, his age, wisdom, his role in the pilgrimage, his role in the film for reason, interpretation, challenge?

14. The meaning of a journey towards Jesus, paralleling with the Magi, bearing gifts, the puzzle, the search – and some fulfilment?