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I had to see this film in Italian language class at Ohio State University. Afterwards, we were quizzed several times about the elements of this film. In the class, besides speaking the language, we also studied Italian geography, cultural life and their economy, as well as information about numerous kidnappings as well as the poverty in rural southern Italian life. We noted from this movie that the typical southern house has no air conditioning; the people, at least stereotypically, have to use electric fans blowing back and forth -- and in Michele's house there was a fan in each room, even when his mother is peeling vegetables (potatoes?) for dinner.
But I digress . . . all the kids riding their bikes out to the country in search of adventures -- then Michele finding Filippo in the hole ("il buco") was astounding. The irony of a lot of the children's playtime was that in Michele's house the crooks were all plotting what to do with Filippo, and one of the major crooks was none other than Michele's own father. Michele's mother, too, I felt was a forced bystander, for whom I felt pity as a victim of the "tough guys". Watching her rape scene was excruciatingly painful. This actress did a great job; the rape scene was done to depict her pain and torment. I felt so sorry for her.
The actor who played Michele was excellent, and so was the boy who played Filippo. Michele had a heart of gold, and his neighborhood friends were true, blue companions. Seeing the police helicopter landing to pick up the crooks was satisfying, but not when I figured out that they were there to pick up Michele's father (and possibly Michele's mother, for being an accessory to the crime). "Questo film e molto interessante, e gli attori sono buoni."
score 10/10
gkeith_1 11 June 2007
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1672685/ |
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3-3-2021 00:05:07