LIBERA MY LOVE
Italy, 1973, 111 minutes, Colour.
Claudia Cardinale, Adolfo Celi, Philippe Leroy.
Directed by Mauro Bolognini.
Libera My Love is one of the several films of Mauro Bolognini from the 1970s. Beginning in the 1960s with some realistic dramas, Il Bell Antonio and others, he made an impact in the 1960s. However, it was the 1970s that was his strong decade beginning with Metello and Bubu. Libera My Love is a story of early 20th century Italy, a picture of the fascist years and an anti-fascist film.
Other films from this period include Down the Ancient Staircase, The Ferramonti Inheritance and The Lady of the Camellias.
The film was a star vehicle for Claudia Cardinale who had emerged during the 1960s as one of Italy’s most famous international stars. She plays a strong woman – with the symbolic name of Freedom.
1. A picture of Italy in the early 20th century: history, politics, fascism, reaction against fascism? A portrait from the '70s? Comparisons of past and present?
2. The work of the director? His interest in Italian history, politics, socialism, anti-fascism? His skill in re-creating and interpreting a period? The quality of production? The serious tone of the film with the humorous touch?
3. Production values: colour photography, the period of Mussolini, Northern Italy, authentic? The touches of spectacle and action? The cast and the presence of Claudia Cardinale? The musical score?
4. The character of Libera: the Italian woman, the symbolism of her name, "Freedom"? Symbolic character: child, young woman, mature woman? A woman of action, loyalty and love, support ? with the irony of her unnecessary death?
5. The importance of the prologue? The information given about Libera, her father, Italy? Political situation? The importance of Libera's father's work, imprisonment? The effect on Libera as a little girl? His car, arrest? Disillusionment? The collage of her growing up? As a person, in her Italian and political background?
6. Claudia Cardinale and her forceful performance? Relationship with Matteo, Carlo and Anna? The tailor, the fascist background, her wearing red? The authorities, the move, Testa? The precarious attitudes and reaction to them e.g. the school and her outburst?
7. The importance of relationships: strong, forceful, impetuous in contrast with Matteo's calm, quiet? Her not being intimidated? The contrast with Matteo and the authorities? The relationship with Matteo and its enduring so long? Separations, imprisonment on the island? The final search and the sadness of the ending? Her fidelity to him, the children?
8. The visit to her father: helping Sandro, hiding, searching, escape? The emotional effect and its later repercussions?
9. The arrest and the confinement ? the letters, her father, the visit, marrying, her return? The train and the bombings?
10. The war and the work as a tailor? The cinema sequence, house arrest? The partisans and the reprisals? The massacres and the hangings? The shootings? The bridges?
11. The arrest and the torture and Matteo's change?
12. The background of the war: friendships, death? The collages and the ending?
13. The build-up to the final confrontation with Testa? Her farewell? The pathos of her death ? why?
14. The re-creation of a significant period in Italian history? The fascists and anarchists? The political and social issues, human issues? Italy and the past? Later decades?
15. An effective character portrait and study of a person in a social setting?
