The second film in the marathon is Bernardo Bertolucci's political sprawling epic, Novocento(renamed 1900 on release in the US). Set in the Italian countryside, it is a multi-layered yarn that centres around the lives of 2 friends separated by class who were born on the same day in 1900. Alfredo is the grandson of a wealthy landowner, Olmo the grandson of his top worker. Despite being poles apart, peasant and heir become friends.
Spanning 1900-45, this film is also a history of the Italian politics of the time. The two leads representing the social classes and the estate, Italy itself. When Alfredo marries a sophisticated French woman, the workers believe that the downward spiral of their situation is to change, but it only gets worse under the spiteful hand of the fascist farm manager (Attila) who suppresses the landowner, steering things in his way.
It's not a cheery film by any means. Any hope of happiness is quickly quelled by tragedy. The joy in the film is through the performances and the picturesque setting. Robert De Niro and a dashingly ripped Gerard Depardieu turn out shining performances as the landowner and peasant worker respectfully. Dominique Sanda is outstanding as the slightly bonkers wife of Alfredo, but it is Laura Betti as Regina and Donald Pleasance as Attila, who steal the show as a despicably malevolent fascist couple. Portrayed at the opening as an old couple being chased down by the village women with pitchforks; by the end of the film you see why and you're cheering for the mob!
Provocatively shocking in parts, it is a sumptuous piece that sweeps you up in it's storytelling. The friendship protrayed is very touching and the political analogy of the rise and fall of Italian fascism is cleverly told, without being preachy. Didn't seem like 5 hours at all.
Some light relief!
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