|
Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
- Black Comedy
- Italian Films
- Morality Police
Review:
After the success of Divorce, Italian Style (1961) — which was largely responsible for sparking the genre of commedia all’italiana — writer-director Pietro Germi helmed this second in a trilogy of dark satires about social (specifically gender-based) mores in mid-20th-century Italy. The real-life scenario presented here is truly ludicrous: Sandrelli feels guilt for “allowing” herself to be seduced by Biggio, who promptly shuns her once he’s “defiled” her: now that she no longer a virgin (thanks to him), she’s a whore. The logical consequences of such a warped ideology are played out to the nth degree here, to the extent that responses to this film were mixed. As noted in Irene Bignardi’s essay for Criterion:
There was a sense that Germi had simply gone too far in this second installment of his “baroque trilogy,” in his piling up of twists, turns, and coups de théâtre, and that the tone of his satire veered toward the grotesque and cynical. And a ghastly piece of work it indeed is: a brilliant satire of a society totally devoted to appearances and to minding other people’s business, a dark farce about the cult of gossip and honor.
It’s nice to see beautiful Sandrelli given more of a central role (and a bit more agency) here than in Divorce … (though she’s still terribly objectified):
… and Germi’s imagery of a town all-too-ready to play along with toxic patriarchy is appropriately incisive.
This one’s worth a look if you can stomach it.
Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:
- Saro Urzì as Don Vincenzo Ascalone
- Fine location shooting in Sciacca
Must See?
No, but it’s recommended.
Links:
|
One thought on “Seduced and Abandoned (1964)”
First viewing (7/12/22) A once-must, as a memorable Italian classic. As posted in ‘Film Junkie’ (fb):
“It’s a whole family of whores!”
‘Seduced and Abandoned’ (1964): This may be a classic Italian comedy you never heard of. I’d known of it for a long time but have only just gotten around to watching it. … And may I say… for a comedy, it really took me by surprise… because it really *is* one – this flick is simply hilarious!
Of course, taste in comedy is one of the most subjective of things. People don’t all find the same things funny. And a lot of comedies from the past have not aged well. Films that are evergreen-funny – like ‘Bringing Up Baby’ or ‘All About Eve’ – may always stand out as the exceptions. ‘S&A’ may fit comfortably into that group.
I began the viewing of it with the idea that I might be somewhat amused. I’d seen the writer / director Pietro Germi’s previous film – the much-more-famous ‘Divorce, Italian Style’, starring Marcello Mastroianni – and recalled it as being entertaining. But it’s not nearly as funny as this follow-up (which again features Stefania Sandrelli, who played opposite Marcello in ‘D,IS’).
Simply put, ‘S&A’ is about the traditional Italian politics of virginity. A young man (Aldo Puglisi) of fluid morals is engaged to a plain-looking woman (Paola Biggio) from a nice-size Italian family. Each time he visits her home, however, he gets the HOTS for her sister (Sandrelli). At the opening of the film, he sees an opportunity to pounce and he does – thus setting in motion a domino-theory fireworks display of heightened Sicilian hysterics and non-stop family intrigue.
What makes Germi’s film so singularly effective is twofold: 1) complications in the plot keep on piling on top of each other and sometimes they overlap simultaneously or take on different shadings, like variations on a theme; 2) Germi has encouraged his cast to, whenever possible, play the material at full-throttle. So, sometimes it’s the dialogue itself that’s witty – but, more often, it’s Germi’s mastery of visual / group chaos that keeps the film hopping. (Sometimes, like Christopher Guest’s speakers in ‘This Is Spinal Tap’, the volume “can go to 11”.)
As for the acting, this is real ensemble playing here so no one really dominates; the ‘wealth’ is spread around when it comes to chances for the actors to shine. Particular family fun comes from Saro Urzi as Sandrelli’s volcanic dad and, as her brother, Lando Buzzanca (who, the following year, had an equally charming / goofy turn as the Police Chief in Vittorio De Sica’s film of the Neil Simon script ‘After the Fox’).