La Ciociara aka Two Women, based on the novel
by Alberto Moravia
A different
version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
-
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
Two Women is one of the best films ever made.
You can
find it on the New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made list:
The film
has won:
-
The Academy Award for Best Actress
in a Leading role and the BAFTA in the same category for Sophia Loren
-
The Golden Globe for Best foreign Language
Film
-
The Cannes Film Festival award for
Best Actress
Sofia
Scicolone- as Sophia Loren was born- is one of the most magnificent, talented, resplendent
actresses.
Her roles
are memorable:
-
La Ciociara, A Special Day,
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow – I have noted on the latter- are just a few
examples
As for the
genius directing this masterpiece, Vittorio de Sica will always be remembered
for other works of art like:
-
Bicycle Thieves, Miracle in Milan,
Umberto D., Marriage Italian Style, The Garden of Finzi Conti
In La
Ciociara, Sophia Loren is superb in the role of Cesira, who is the anxious
mother of a teenager: Rosetta.
The action
takes place during the World War II, under the bombardments and within the
terror of conflict.
At the
start, after a terrible bombing taking place over Rome, Cesira decides to take
her daughter, who has a weak heart away.
First the
mother meets with an old friend and we realize that the husband that Cesira had
married was not good enough for her.
The Two
Women embark on a train ride, to seek safety in the countryside that would
offer protection.
Or so they
hope.
They have
to abandon the train as it has stopped and they continue their journey, coming
across partisans.
Notwithstanding
the righteousness of the cause of fighting against the Nazis, these show a dark
side when facing the Two Women.
They want
the Two Women to be their servants, using the disturbing logic that if their
cause is good, serving them is the right thing.
But Cesira
is a Wonder Woman, gifted, proud, brave, determined, a role model, gritty and
insubordinate.
Her short
answer if: No Way!!
She meets
an idealist, Michele, who is portrayed by a restrained Jean Paul Belmondo, in a
rather unusual role for him.
Michele
falls in love with Cesira, who in turn jokes with her teenage daughter that she
would allow Rosetta to marry the young man, if only the thirteen year old would
be just a little older.
Food is
running short in this village where Cesira was born and there is a scene that I
recollect on the subject.
The worried
mother tries to get some food from a shepherd that has an interesting attitude
towards prices:
-
If I sell you at my price, you would
be angry with me and if I sell you at your price, then I would be mad at you…
Therefore,
the Two Women have to travel back to Rome and on the way tragedy strikes- in
what manner I will not say.
It is just
that relativity is in evidence again:
-
As in the case of the partisans who
wanted servants just because they were on the right side, here again- allied
soldiers are responsible for an outrageous act which would be called a war
crime today.
This is a stupendous
movie.
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