Europa '51 (also known as The Greatest Love) is a 1952 Italian neorealist film directed by Roberto Rossellini, starring Ingrid Bergman and Alexander Knox.
Background
Long fascinated by Francis of Assisi, Roberto Rossellini decided to create a film that placed a person of the saint's character in post-war Italy and showed what the consequences would be.[1]
Synopsis
Irene (Bergman) and George Girard (Knox) are a wealthy couple living in post-war Rome with their son Michele (Sandro Franchina). During a dinner party, Michele constantly tries to get his mother's attention, but Irene is more interested in being a good hostess to her guests than being an attentive mother. As a result, Michele attempts suicide by falling through a stairwell several stories, fracturing his hip.
At the hospital, Irene promises to never leave Michele and to be more attentive, but he dies soon after from a blood clot. Irene is bedridden for 10 days, before enlisting the help of Andrea Casatti (Ettore Giannini) to help her overcome her grief. Being a Communist, he takes her to the poorer parts of Rome and leads her into donating her time and money to help people there. While there, she gives the money for a boy's medical treatment, helps a woman with six children to find a job at a factory (where she has a life changing experience working for a day in order to fill in for the woman), and cares for a woman who is dying of tuberculosis.
As a result of helping these people, she spends less and less time at home. Her husband comes to the conclusion that she is having an affair with Andrea, which causes her to leave him. In addition, she is picked up by the police after helping a boy who had committed a theft evade arrest (she had told him to turn himself in).
While in custody, the husband and the authorities decide to put her in a mental institution. At the end of the film, she is up for review on whether she would stay there permanently with the result being that her philosophy of helping people was dangerous for the fragile post-war society. Therefore, she becomes a permanent member of the institution.
Cast
Ingrid Bergman as Irene Girard.
| Actor |
Role |
Other notes |
| Ingrid Bergman |
Irene Girard |
main character whose son dies |
| Alexander Knox |
George Girard |
her husband |
| Ettore Giannini |
Andrea Casatti |
man who tries to aid Irene's recovery |
| Giulietta Masina |
Passerotto |
|
| Marcella Rovena |
Mrs. Puglisi |
|
| Tina Perna |
Cesira |
|
| Sandro Franchina |
Michele Girard |
Irene's son |
Awards
Ingrid Bergman won the 1953 Silver Ribbon award from the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists for her performance. In addition, Roberto Rossellini won the International Award and was nominated for the Golden Lion award at the 1952 Venice Film Festival.
Notes
External links
