Bertolucci's critique on Italian fascism centers around the character of Marcello, a man who craves for a life of "normalcy" within the ideals of Mussolini's Italy. For me personally I had trouble watching this film initially because of my sleepiness so I was foolish enough to dismiss it as something very pretty but not worth following as a story. However, my foolishness was quickly proven wrong after finishing the film the morning after. I wish I had experienced the whole film with all of my attention and sharpness earlier in the day because the more I think about the film and the way I experienced the ending changed my thoughts drastically. Marcello's character follows a more tragic route, as he can't get over his cowardice in the face of dictatorship. He chooses to accept whatever reality is handed to him so he can survive, not just with politics but with his interpersonal relationships as well. He chooses to marry a woman he doesn't truly love, kills a professor he admires deeply, and abandons his best friend to relieve himself of the guilt he faces in all of his actions. Even with these actions he does them without any sort of conviction. He finds another woman he truly DOES love, but can't leave his wife because he doesn't want to take responsibility for the repercussions of his actions. All of these events define Marcello's character, and the more I come back to these scenes the more I admire both Bertolucci's direction and of course, Storaro's photography. Each scene feels like visual poetry on screen. The use of strict blue and yellow creates strong images that really help center the emotion of the film. The blue feels cold, distant and dreary much like the air of fascism that wafts around the story. On the other hand, the yellow in contrast feels extremely warm and inviting, making us feel like there is at least some hope or light within all of the misery that exists. On top of the colors the camerawork and lighting is extraordinary as well, each choice feels very deliberate in pushing the mood of the characters outward.
One scene that really stood out to me in particular is the one in the club where Marcello tries to convince the professor's wife to stay in France as to avoid death. The use of trucking out from Marcello's supervisor to his wife and the professor all the way to Marcello and the professor's wife feels so dynamic, the crowd overtaking the rest of the shot gives that sense of really being lost. These characters are simply just a part of the crowd, yet their lives are about to be fundamentally changed.
I'm glad I watched this film, I hope to rewatch it again at some point to further appreciate the story, characters, and photography.
No comments:
Post a Comment