GARDEN OF REDEMPTION

US, 1997, 95 minutes, Colour.
Anthony La Paglia, Embeth Davidtz, Dan Hedaya, Jorge Sanz, Peter Firth.
Directed by Thomas Michael Donnelly.

Garden of Redemption is a film about Italy at the end of World War Two. It focuses on an occupied village north of Florence at the time of the American invasion. The focus is on the curate in the parish, played by Anthony La Paglia. He is a dedicated man, but somewhat unsure of his vocation, especially as he is attracted by a young woman in the town (Embeth Davidtz).

There is a Resistance movement in the town and confrontation with the Nazi occupiers leading to reprisals and the death of a young Resistance fighter.

The film develops the relationship between the priest and the young woman, shows the priest becoming more involved in the Resistance movement, especially after his parish priest is taken away for giving support to the Resistance. He considers himself weak and a coward but takes the place of the young woman when she is arrested and, when she is finally captured, just as the Americans are finally arriving, they are executed. He stands in front of her to lessen the impact of the bullet and she survives.

The film was written and directed by Thomas Michael Donnelly, a screenwriter who did the screenplay for the powerful television film about the sex abuse cases in Boston and the role of Cardinal Law, Our Fathers.

1.A popular telemovie about World War Two – forty years afterwards? Memories of the Nazi occupation, of the Resistance?

2.The Italian settings, the village? The re-creation of the period of the mid-40s? The church, homes, cafés? The musical score?

3.The plausibility of the plot, the characters? In comparison with other films of this kind?

4.The Nazi occupation, the presentation of the German soldiers, some congenial, their respect for the priests, the sadistic attitudes, bashings and kickings? The pursuit of Aldo, his torture and execution? The Nazi commandant, his sinister look, his vengeance on the people? The routing of the Germans as the Americans came – yet the final execution? A caricature of the Germans or a presentation realistically?

5.Don Paolo, his age, experience, work in the parish? Playing football with the children? His relationship with the parish priest, his caution when the parish priest was helping the Resistance? His attraction towards Adriana? The gypsy and his buying the comb? His giving her the gift? The kiss? Her reaction? His continued work, the encounter with the Germans, with the Resistance? His being given the mission, his accomplishing it? His fears, the imprisonment of Adriana, his decision to take her place, her escape? Confronted by the commandant, Adriana’s recapture, his being taken out, the execution – even after the delay with the American planes flying over? His shielding Adriana, her survival? Her visiting his grave?

6.Adriana, her vitality, her relationship with Aldo? In the restaurant, the dancing, Aldo’s reaction? Her attraction towards Don Paolo, respect for him as a priest? Her being imprisoned, the escape, her being shot, her visiting Paolo’s grave?

7.The portrait of the Americans, their arrival, parachuting in, the OSS officer disguised as a priest, working with the Resistance, radio contact, the blowing up of the aqueduct as the Americans parachuted in? Captain Zito and the leadership of the Resistance?

8.The details of life in the Italian town, the experience of occupation, the continued dangers, resistance and reprisals?