LA VIACCIA
Italy, 1961, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Jean- Paul Belmondo, Claudia Cardinale, Pietro Germi, Romolo Valli, Paul Frankeur.
Directed by Mauro Bolognini.
La Viaccia is one of the many films about the 19th century directed by Mauro Bolognini. He began directing in the 1950s. By the beginning of the 1960s he was making films about the working-class in Rome, those living in the poorer parts of the city: La Giornata Balorda and Il Belle Antonio. He also made several short films during the 1960s segments many films which gathered together the popular directors of the time. In 1970 he made the period film, Metello, a fine re-creation of period as well as an exploration of social issues. This continued during the 1970s with such films as Down the Ancient Staircase as well as The Inheritance. He also made a 1980s version of The Lady of the Camellias.
The film has two very popular young stars of the period, the French Jean- Paul Belmondo and the Italian Claudia Cardinale. The film was based on a novel by Vasco Pratolini. Pratolini contributed either by way of novel or screenwriting to many of the significant films of the 1960s including Visconti’s Rocco And His Brothers, Family Diary, The Four Days of Naples as well as writing the novel of Matello.
1. The title? The indication of themes?
2. Italy in the 19th century, the 20th century? Similarities and differences? Historical and social comment?
3. The reputation of Mauro Bolognini, his early films? History? People in their environment and in their society? A pessimistic tone?
4. The black and white photography, the farm, the city of Florence? The shop, the bordello? Poverty and hard times? The street scenes? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score?
5. The theme in the opening: death, jealousy, greed and family? The church and the anti religious attitudes? The old man and his heritage? Stefano and his deceit? Nando being ousted yet holding on? The role of the young boy?
6. La Viaccia, the reality, the visual impact, a symbol? The family, holding on? Excluded? Lost at the end?
7. Stefano, as a character, his weakness? Son, wife? Beaten by his wife? Ousted?
8. The wife, mother, son? The same, the hospital? Lost?
9. The whole family, their characters, the exercise of greed? Shame? The pimps? Their being shown up? The detail?
10. The woman and her son, as mistress? The plot, the death game? The ousting, marrying, winning? The new brigade?
11. Amerigo as a symbol of the New World? Work, attitudes, present at the death? His infatuation, stealing? Love and jealousy? His being put out? His winning? Death? The meaning of his life?
12. Amerigo and his family, the values, the change? The relationship with Bianca? The bonds, love? The hurt, work? The future? The stabbing, his return, dying?
13. Bianca and what she stood for, her background, work, clients, jealousy?
14. The madam, the other members of the bordello? The bouncer? His work? The party and the stabbing?
15. The hospital sequences?
16. Everything put together at the end?
17. A world view, a portrait of society, a portrait of Italian society in a particular place and time?
