IL PAPA DI GIOVANNA

Italy, 2008, 104 minutes, Colour.
Silvio Orlando, Francesca Neri.
Directed by Pupi Avati.

Pupi Avati has been making films for many decades. His focus is on Italian history, especially from the 1930s. He also has a great interest in families and has presented many variations on the themes of functional and dysfunctional families. Many Italians believe that he has told the stories too often. However, for those who enjoy his stories, Il Papa di Giovanna is very good entertainment and has a great number of interesting themes.

The setting is Bologna in 1938. The film’s style recreates the atmosphere of the period and uses a muted colour to suggest those years of fascism.

The title refers to Michele, a middle-aged teacher in a high school. He is very protective of his rather naïve and socially awkward daughter, the seventeen-year-old Giovanna. Delia, his wife, has married him out of devotion and security rather than love. Giovanna is awkward at school, however, she seems to have formed an attachment with one of the more dashing students. She is also invited to a party by her best friend, the daughter of a fascist senator.

As the film recreates this period, it suddenly turns into a crime drama. Giovanna murders her best friend. In court, with psychological examination, she is considered to be mentally unstable and is sentenced to an institution. As the war breaks out and continues, with bombing raids on Bologna, the father of Giovanna continues to visit her while her mother cannot bring herself to do this. The marriage disintegrates, the father moves closer to the asylum so that he can be with his daughter. The mother takes up with the father’s best friend, the neighbouring policeman.

The film continues after World War Two, Giovanna being released in 1946. The film also highlights aspects of the war, especially with the execution of fascists by the partizans.

The film ends in 1953 when the father, still looking after his daughter, encounters her mother and there is some kind of understanding and reconciliation.

Silvio Orlando is excellent as the father. Francesca Neri is the mother. ……… ……… is very persuasive as Giovanna.

1.An Italian story? History? The feel of the times? The issues? The lush score?

2.1938, Bologna, ordinary families, the school, the fascist background, the city settings?

3.World War Two, the bombing raids, the shelters, the survivors, the lack of food, the search for jobs? The end of the war and the rejoicing? The execution of the fascists?

4.The courts, prisons, mental institutions?

5.1953, the changes in Italy, prosperity, television sets in the shop windows, going to see the movies? Calamity Jane?

6.Giovanna’s voice-over, the initial photo of her family, the end and her expression of hope? The attitude of her optimistic father, her more realistic mother?

7.Michele, his age, his experiences, arts studies, attempts to contact the artist to write his biography? At school, the votes on the board, his concern about students sitting exams? Giovanna and his care, protective? The discussions with his wife about his daughter? His caution? The talk with Dalmastri, allowing him to sit the exams, his urging him to be friendly with Giovanna, threatening that he should not hurt her? Everybody in the school knowing about this? His seeing Giovanna with Dalmastri? Going to buy the dress, Giovanna going to the party, her drinking, his having to go, bringing her home? His love for Delia? Her fidelity to him but lack of love? His being an ordinary man, unprepared for what happened with Giovanna’s crime?

8.Giovanna, her age, naivety, problems, shyness, the pockmarks on her face? At school, teased? With Dalmastri, talking, his comments about her work on Petrarch? Her infatuation with him? Her friendship with Marcella, buying the dress, going to the party, drinking? Coming home? Her father’s protection, her mother trying to be realistic? Feeling that her daughter saw her as only interested in beauty and nothing else?

9.School, the meetings, Michele and his teaching? At home, seeing the razor, the blood, the stains? Giovanna’s arrest, his fears, the finding of the sperm and his relief? The explanation of Dalmastri with Marcella? His going to the gym, his friendship with Sergio, Delia and their going to the police station? Giovanna and the interrogations, her confession? Michele refusing to believe? Delia knowing?

10.Sergio, the neighbour, policeman, friend, his wife, Leah? His love for Delia, under the surface? His work? The investigation?

11.The fascist background, the senator, the mother? Mussolini and the celebrations, the flashback to Mussolini’s birthday and Giovanna’s having the fit, the dancing? The authorities, the Secret Police, the investigations? The judge?

12.Michele, at school, the principal dismissing him, the baker giving him bread and then refusing custom? The people in the street, shunning him? Marcella’s mother, her violent reaction and screaming? Giovanna in prison, the visits, Delia not able to visit and returning home? Giovanna wearing the party dress in the court? The discussions with the lawyer, the plea, insanity, her interviews with the doctors?

13.The court proceedings, Giovanna in the cage, the dress, her behaviour, her listening, her tantrum? Dalmastri wanting her out of the court? Her anger?

14.The testimonies, Dalmastri and his explanations? The verdict? Her going to the asylum? Michele accompanying her?

15.The asylum, the staff, the doctors, the patients and the range of mental behaviour, her wanting her mother’s gloves, the bath sequence?

16.Michele’s visits, over the years, talking with her, outside the fence, her conversations, the gloves, the moods? The psychologist and his talking about Delia’s love for Sergio and Giovanna’s perceiving this, resentment? The responsibility for Giovanna’s situation? Michele and his talking this over with Sergio?

17.Sergio arranging the job at the bar, Delia and her settling in? Michele and his decision to leave? Leaving the two together? The air raid, Sergio’s wife being killed? Michele and his boarding, Sergio’s and Delia’s visit? His teaching the local children? Sergio and his remaining loyal to Mussolini? Going north?

18.The end of the war, the courts against the fascists, the partizans, Delia present, Sergio and his condemnation, the shooting, his being wounded, running, getting in the tram, his death?

19.1946, the release of Giovanna, her wanting to see Marcella’s mother, no forgiveness, the fascist relentlessness? Getting her hair done, people talking about her, the ordinary life, going back to their own house after the war? Michele enquiring about Sergio? About Delia?

20.1953, Bologna, changes, the streets, the people watching the television in the shops? Going to the cinema? Delia in the cinema? Giovanna talking with her, Delia coming out, Michele’s explanation that she had reverted to being like a child?

21.The family getting together again, the possibilities? The personal story in the context of World War Two?