Movie spotlight
La grande quercia
In 1943, Vincenzio and Maria take their children to his father's Tuscan farm. Vincenzio commutes to Rome where he's a physician and, in the hospital basement, prints an anti-Fascist paper. His brother is in the Resistance; his father supplies food to a local monastery where 12 fugitives hide. All is seen through the eyes of the oldest child, Paulo, who's about 7 and the only lad at school who doesn't wear a Fascist Youth uniform. For Paulo and his siblings, it's great fun playing with their nonno, finding herbs in the fields, watching a maid's tryst with a soldier, teasing a silent monk. Then the war reaches the farm when Italy surrenders and the Germans exact revenge.
Insights
Plot Summary
In a remote Italian village, a young man, tormented by his family's dark secrets, finds himself drawn into a passionate and destructive affair. As his relationships become increasingly entangled, he must confront the legacy of his ancestors and the suffocating traditions of his community. The story unfolds against a backdrop of simmering tensions and unspoken desires, leading to inevitable tragedy.
Critical Reception
Mauro Bolognini's final film, 'La grande quercia,' was met with a subdued critical reception. While some critics acknowledged Bolognini's signature visual style and the strong performances of its lead actors, many found the narrative to be overly melodramatic and somewhat dated. The film failed to achieve significant commercial success or widespread critical acclaim, often overshadowed by Bolognini's earlier, more impactful works.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its atmospheric cinematography and visual style.
Criticized for a melodramatic and predictable plot.
Performances from the lead actors were generally seen as commendable.
Google audience: Audience reception for 'La grande quercia' is largely unavailable through public channels. Those comments that are found tend to echo critical sentiments, with some viewers appreciating the film's aesthetic qualities while others found the story to be slow-paced and emotionally distant.
Fun Fact
This film marked the final directorial effort of the acclaimed Italian filmmaker Mauro Bolognini, who passed away shortly after its completion.
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