Rocco and His Brothers
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Rocco and His Brothers
Plot
Luchino Visconti's operatic masterpiece tells the story of the Parondis, a poor family from a village in southern Italy who come to Milan seeking a better life. Following the death of her husband, proud Rosaria (Katina Paxinou) picks up stakes and moves to the city with four of her sons: Simone (Renato Salvatori), Rocco (Alain Delon), Ciro (Max Cartier), and Luca (Rocco Vidolazzi). Awaiting them in Milan is her oldest son, Vincenzo (Spiros Focas), who himself is preoccupied with his impending nuptials to the beautiful Ginetta (Claudia Cardinale). Divided into chapters focused loosely on each brother, the movie chronicles the Parondis' struggle to get by, as the brothers take odd jobs and the family endures life in a cramped tenement. Much of the movie's second half deals largely with Simone and Rocco. The loutish Simone eventually finds success as a boxer, and the family soon moves to a better neighborhood. Meanwhile, Rocco gets drafted by the military, and becomes a successful boxer himself upon his return. Complications arise when Nadia (Annie Girardot), a prostitute, enters their lives. Simone falls in love with Nadia first; however, Rocco eventually becomes the object of her affection. Simone's obsession with Nadia and his rapidly deteriorating behavior ultimately threaten to bring the family to ruin, even as the saintly Rocco tries to save his brother. At the peak of Rocco's success, Simone commits a crime that cruelly dashes Rocco's hopes of keeping the family together. ~ Elbert Ventura, RoviReview
Italian master Luchino Visconti may have made his name as one of neorealism's forebears, but his greatest works are arguably the ones that came in the years after the movement's heyday. Fusing neorealist elements with grand gestures, Visconti created movies that were grim yet gorgeous, harshly realistic yet seductively lush. Rocco and His Brothers is a sterling representative of Visconti's singular artistry, a full-bodied melodrama that transforms the story of a provincial family that moves to the city into an epic tale of passion, jealousy, and betrayal. Split loosely into five chapters for each brother, the movie chronicles the life of the Parindo family, who move from rural southern Italy to Milan. As the title suggests, the movie spends much of its time with Rocco (Alain Delon), a saintly man with hopes of one day returning the family to their province. His demeanor contrasts with Simone's (Renato Salvatori), who goes from being the family's breadwinner to its ultimate shame. Painted with bold strokes and marked by inflamed passions, Rocco and His Brothers holds you in rapt attention despite its sprawling story. Visconti punctuates the Parondis' struggles with two harrowing scenes of ritualized violence that profoundly change the family and underscore the operatic determinism of Visconti's vision. The movie's visceral intensity is matched only by the elegance and intelligence of the mise-en-scène, with its fine compositions, graceful camera moves, and evocative black-and-white cinematography. A work of overpowering power and stark beauty, Rocco and His Brothers stands as a vivid masterpiece from one of cinema's great artists. ~ Elbert Ventura, RoviCast
- Alain Delon - Rocco Parondi
- Renato Salvatori - Simone Parondi
- Annie Girardot - Nadia
- Katina Paxinou - Rosaria Parondi
- Roger Hanin - Morini
Credit
Piero Tosi - Costume Designer, Luchino Visconti - Director, Mario Serandrei - Editor, Nino Rota - Composer (Music Score), Giuseppe Banchelli - Makeup, Mario Garbuglia - Production Designer, Giuseppe Rotunno - Cinematographer, Goffredo Lombardo - Producer, Giuseppe Bordogni - Producer, Pasquale Festa Campanile - Screenwriter, Suso Cecchi D'Amico - Screenwriter, Massimo Franciosa - Screenwriter, Luchino Visconti - Screenwriter, Enrico Medioli - Screenwriter, Giovanni Testori - Book Author| Rocco Prestia Live (Film), Roccaterrania (2009 Film) | |
| Roches: Family Concert (Film), Roches: Live Nude Review (1990 Film) |
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Rocco and His Brothers
| Rocco and His Brothers | |
|---|---|
 Italian theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Luchino Visconti |
| Produced by | Goffredo Lombardo |
| Screenplay by | Luchino Visconti |
| Story by | Suso Cecchi d'Amico |
| Starring | Alain Delon Renato Salvatori Annie Girardot Katina Paxinou |
| Music by | Nino Rota |
| Cinematography | Giuseppe Rotunno |
| Editing by | Mario Serandrei |
| Studio | Titanus Les Films Marceau |
| Distributed by | Astor Pictures Corporation |
| Release date(s) |
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| Running time | 177 minutes |
| Country | Italy France |
| Language | Italian |
Rocco e i suoi fratelli (English: Rocco and His Brothers) is a 1960 Italian and French film directed by Luchino Visconti. Set in Milan, it tells the story of an immigrant family from the South and its disintegration in the society of the industrial North. The film stars Alain Delon, Renato Salvatori, Annie Girardot, and Claudia Cardinale, in one of her early roles before she became internationally known.[1] The film's score was composed by Nino Rota.
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Contents
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Plot
The drama is study of a rural Italian family led north to Milan by the matriarch (Katina Paxinou). Presented in five distinct sections, the film weaves the story of Vincenzo, Simone, Rocco, Ciro and Luca as they struggle to adapt to life in a large, impersonal city.
The plot revolves around the prostitute, Nadia (Annie Girardot), who is pursued and desired by both Simone and Rocco (Alain Delon). The pivotal scene in the film comes when Simone rapes Nadia in front of Rocco, who then gives her up to his brother out of a tragic, misplaced desire to do whatever it takes to keep his family whole.
In typical fashion for a director known for helping build Italian neorealism, the film ends with no substantive resolution, but with clouds of doom hanging over the family.
During shooting, the film was seized and Visconti asked to delete the scenes showing Nadia's rape and murder. Visconti was not vindicated until a court judgement of 1966.[2]
Cast
- Alain Delon as Rocco Parondi
- Renato Salvatori as Simone Parondi
- Annie Girardot as Nadia
- Katina Paxinou as Rosaria Parondi
- Alessandra Panaro as Ciro's Fiancee
- Spiros Focás as Vincenzo Parondi
- Max Cartier as Ciro Parondi
- Corrado Pani as Ivo
- Rocco Vidolazzi as Luca Parondi
- Claudia Mori as Laundry Worker
- Adriana Asti as Laundry Worker
- Enzo Fiermonte as Boxer
- Nino Castelnuovo as Nino Rossi
- Rosario Borelli as Un biscazziere
- Renato Terra as Alfredo, Ginetta's brother
- Roger Hanin as Morini
- Paolo Stoppa as Cecchi
- Suzy Delair as Luisa
- Claudia Cardinale as Ginetta
Reception
Critical response
The film critic for The New York Times, Bosley Crowther, gave the film a positive review and appreciated the direction of the film and acting. He wrote, "A fine Italian film to stand alongside the American classic, The Grapes of Wrath, opened last night ...It is Luchino Visconti's Rocco and His Brothers (Rocco e i suoi fratelli), and it comes here garlanded with laurels that are quite as appropriate in this context as they are richly deserved...Signor Visconti has clearly conceived his film and that is what his brilliant handling of events and characters makes one feel. There's a blending of strong emotionalism and realism to such an extent that the margins of each become fuzzy and indistinguishable...Alain Delon as the sweet and loyal Rocco...is touchingly pliant and expressive, but it is Renato Salvatori ...who fills the screen with the anguish of a tortured and stricken character. His raw and restless performance is overpowering and unforgettable...[and the] French actress Annie Girardot is likewise striking as the piteous prostitute..."[3]
The staff at Variety magazine lauded the drama, and wrote, "With all its faults, this is one of the top achievements of the year in Italy...Scripting shows numerous hands at work, yet all is pulled together by Visconti's dynamic and generally tasteful direction. Occasionally, as in the near-final revelation to the family of Simone's crime, the action gets out of hand and comes close to melodrama. Yet the impact of the main story line, aided by the sensitive, expertly guided playing of Alain Delon as Rocco, Annie Girardot as the prostie, and Renato Salvatori as Simone, is great. Katina Paxinou at times is perfect, at others she is allowed to act too theatrically and off-key."[4]
When the film was released in DVD format, critic Glenn Erickson said, "A major pleasure of Rocco and his Brothers is simply seeing its portrait of life in working-class Milan in 1960. Beautifully directed in the housing projects and streets of the city, this is a prime example of a film which will accrue historical interest simply because it shows so much of how people lived and what places looked like (now) 40 years ago."[5]
Awards
- Awards
- Venice Film Festival: FIPRESCI Prize, Luchino Visconti; Special Prize, Luchino Visconti; 1960.
- Venice Film Festival: Silver Lion
- David di Donatello Awards, Italy; David, Best Production (Migliore Produzione), Goffredo Lombardo, tied with Tutti a casa (1960); 1961.
- Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists: Silver Ribbon, Best Cinematography, B/W (Migliore Fotografia in Bianco e Nero), Giuseppe Rotunno; Best Director (Regista del Miglior Film), Luchino Visconti; Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura): Pasquale Festa Campanile, Suso Cecchi d'Amico, Luchino Visconti, and Enrico Medioli; 1961.
- Bodil Awards, Copenhagen, Denmark: Bodil, Best European Film (Bedste europæiske film), Luchino Visconti (director); 1962.
- Nominations
- Venice Film Festival: Golden Lion, Luchino Visconti; 1960.
- British Academy of Film and Television Arts: BAFTA Film Award, Best Film from any Source, Italy; Best Foreign Actress, Annie Girardot, Italy; 1962.
References
- ^ Rocco and His Brothers at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Buss, Robin. Italian Films, "Rocco and His Brothers," page 142. London: Anchor Press Ltd. ISBN 0-7134-5900-X.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley. The New York Times, film review, January 28, 1961. Last accessed: December 31, 2007.
- ^ Variety. Film review, September 6, 1960. Last accessed: December 31, 2007.
- ^ Erikson, Eric. DVD Savant, DVD/film review, November 11, 2001. Last accessed: december 2, 2009.
External links
- Rocco and His Brothers at the Internet Movie Database
- Rocco and His Brothers at DVD Beaver (includes images).
- Rocco and His Brothers trailer at YouTube
| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by The Magician |
Special Jury Prize, Venice 1960 |
Succeeded by Peace to Him Who Enters |
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Suzy Delair
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Luchino Visconti
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Music for Film
(1998 Album by Nino Rota)
Roger Hanin
(Actor, Writer, Director, Crime/Spy Film)
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