segunda-feira, 2 de outubro de 2006

Three Italian masterpieces




Many of you were infants, some still in diapers, and a few not even born yet…
I can hardly believe two of these movies are exactly thirty years old, and the other one is thirty three…
I watched them for the first time around the end of the 70's, and during the 80's I watched them all again and again.


Just a few months ago I had the opportunity of re‑watching «Brutti, Sporchi e Cattivi», which made me want to go through the other two once again.
There is nothing I could say that would add anything whatsoever to these monuments. They belong to mankind now, as La Gioconda or the Coliseum do.

«Amarcord» is a delicious comedy in the great tradition of the Italian cinema from after WW2 that conquered Europe and the world, I believe.
«
Novecento» is a History book in the shape of a long, superb film: a cast you won't ever forget, a magnificent photography, a soundtrack that compels you to learn all those marvellous songs by heart in Italian, French, whatever…

Dear blogger friends, if you happened not to have watched any of these «crown jewels» of the Seventh Art, I do urge you to do so as soon as possible.

If «European Union» is somehow bound to mean something, then I believe each and every one of us has a clear path to follow: as we visit each other's blogs in the tranquillity of our living rooms or studies, we should visit each other's cultures as often as we can. And by doing so we would become so much richer…

32 comentários:

Bruce disse...

Ric,

Agreed. Becoming Europeans is not going to make us any less Italian Portuguese, or French. But despite the huge, even overwhelming waves of tourism in Europe, we are still pathetically provincial and chauvinistic. The old national prejudices and clichés are still very much alive.

And if this type of narrow thinking is still a problem on a cultural level within Europe, just imagine how much more has to be done in reference to acceptance of homosexuality, or of non European cultures.

Bruce disse...

Ric,

Have you noticed that a Christian Evangelical message has been appended to your webpage? It probably was put there as one of the "sponsors" for the hit counter that you added.

These counters demand that you agree to host advertising in exchange for the service of the counter, and they give you no option of refusing any specific advertisment. Is having a hit counter so important?

RIC disse...

Dear Bruce
Twenty years ago, when I was more often around in Europe, I used to say I was European first and Portuguese second. This would set off rather intense reactions, especially here in Portugal... No wonder...
That's why Bertoluci, Scola, and so many others are world citizens.
As for Google ads I really don't care that much. They change a lot, and even if they didn't I couldn't care less, to be honest. Advertising and fashion are more or less at the same level, as far as I'm concerned. Maybe that hit counter has just a surprise effect on me, but I admit I do enjoy it. In certain matters I'm selfish, and right now I do need some small things just to boost me up again. But I do understand your point of view and respect your convictions. Thank you, Bruce! :-)

Anónimo disse...

1900 I e II, foi um filme muito importante para o meu crescimento e amadurecimento pessoal.

Feios, porcos e maus, é uma tragico-comédia que revi há bem pouco tempo. Pareceu-me agora, muito mais trágico que comédia. Conclui que foi um filme para uma época.

Jack disse...

Hi RIC!?

I'm sorry to say I've never seen those movies.

I'll have to look into them.

Thanks!?

RIC disse...

Olá Karla!
Talvez também por essas razões sejam marcos do cinema. São já elementos da História.
E «Amarcord»? Uma deliciosa comédia à italiana assinada por Fellini. Está tudo dito!
(«Home, sweet home!», não é? Parabéns! Beijinhos!)

RIC disse...

Hello Joel!
Yes, it's really sad that so few good European movies ever get the chance of crossing the Atlantic.
About these three I can only say they are and they made History.
I hope you're lucky!
Wish you all the best!

Jack disse...

Thanks RIC!?

And what's that name you wanna call me?

I posted something else.

Something a bit deeper.

J

T-Bird disse...

http://www.filelodge.com/files/1565/Adagio%20For%20Strings%20%28001%29.mp3

Eary in the morning on January 3. Paul plays his piano reduction of the Adagio as Ringo watchs over his shoulder. This exists on film -- I have it.You can hear the canera sync pulses in the sound track. The next thing he played was the first recorded verison of a new song he was working on which was to become "Let It Be".

T-Bird disse...

I favor Roma.

Gray disse...

Forgive this old romantic, but I don't want to see the different, beautiful, individual countries (that comprise the European Continent) become "European."

As a romantic, I *love* each country as an individual country -- each with its own amazing history; each with its own amazingly wonderful culture (or combinations of cultures).

I understand the economic reasons for banding together; but I truly hope that the culture, literature and art of each and every individual country remains independent of the other.

Again, the key word here is "romantic" and all that romanticism intails.

I will certainly check several local video stores (large and small) to see if these films are available. If not, I'll find them online, I'm sure, with English subtitles (or English dubbed).

Thank you for bringing them to my attention, Ric.

Minge disse...

I certainly agree!

People claim that European integration means loss of culture, or it being watered down. We in the UK are in no union with the USA, but that country has more impact on our (loss of) culture than the EU. The EU is a brotherly club, all about sharing and we should all be doing that.

Anónimo disse...

I will put these in my Netflix queue. I've always loved movies from other countries. You see their sensibilities, their loves and hates. Their food, politics and what makes them laugh.
Thanks for the tips hon,
kb

RIC disse...

Hello Joel! The name I wanted to call you has only to do with your excellent taste in photos. I guess it would have to be «teaser»...
I'll be visiting you in a minute!
Thanks!

RIC disse...

Thank you very much, Will! That film is also a piece of History already! Lord, he was still working on «Let it be» (and I was still a child...).
When you say you favour «Roma», I believe you mean «Roma, Città Apperta», don't you? That goes back to the 40's, 50's, I guess...
Greetings from Lisboa!

RIC disse...

You're most welcome, Gray! And I do understand your so-called romantic point of view.
I don't know whether my English has betraid me, but there's nothing I want more for us, Europeans, to be attentive to than the whole preservation of all forms of culture in the Continent. Building the Union in any other way would be totally wrong. Differences are to be protected in the name of diversity, not in order to turn everything uniform.
I hope you'll be lucky and successful in your quest!
Wish you all the best! :-)

RIC disse...

Yes, Minge, that strong impact of the USA on Europe is a matter that started right after WW2 and became much more obvious when the Iron Curtain fell. And, no doubt, the UK has been a tremendous ally of the USA in that sense... Now I understand better De Gaulle's words about the UK being a kind of Trojan horse... It's excessive indeed, but understandable...
Viva a Escócia! (Long live Scotland!) :-)

RIC disse...

Hello Knottyboy! I do think that's quite a good idea! Generally speaking, it's very important to know the works of Fellini or Bertoluci, as Martin Scorcese recently said in a documentary he made on Italian cinema, which seems to have been so important in his development as a director.
Wish you all the best!

Marcelo B. disse...

ola tudo bem?Meu ingles é péssimo, mas deu para entender a mensagem...curti seu blog bem legal e valeu pela visita no meu blog, volte qdo quiser...abçao

Râzi disse...

Acorda o dono do museu !!1

Beijão!

RIC disse...

Salvé Bofiscândalo! Bem-vindo! Aqui há de tudo um pouco. Assim também quanto a línguas... Mas haverá sempre um espaço especial para o(s) nosso(s) Português!...
Saudações transatlânticas! :-)

RIC disse...

Porquê, Ricardinho? És daqueles que ainda não tinham nascido, não é? Pois, o passado é pesado, lá isso é... Mas olha que o dono do museu dorme menos do que muitos pensam... A idade faz diminuir as horas de sono necessárias...
Atrevido!
Beijão!

Anónimo disse...

Actually I meant the 1972 Fellini "Roma". Dunno why it strikes me so. The "driving" scene is how I feel now when I drive. There is this desperation now that Americans have on the road like the last days of Dinosaurs. A final gasp of survival in a zero sum game where if you win (i.e. get to where you are going no matter how trivial a trip it is) then a bunch of other drivers must perish (not arrive to their destinations in a timely basis).

So you were a young child when Let It Be was filmed and recorded?

Aretha is playing on my site today. American Gospel titled "Be Grateful". We always need to remember to be grateful for what we have in this world. I am extremely religious and spiritual -- I just hate all these phoney ass churches and the men who run them.

I saw your comment to Josh on loss....very nice. I lost my sister, my father, and then my dear mother who I was extremely close to in one year (this year).
I have really been thru the valley of grief this year.

RIC disse...

Sorry, Will, I had forgotten that «Roma». Of course.
Well, I was a young boy, yes. I don't remember those days so well, but I was in 4.th grade when «Obladee, oblada» was a hit... That's my best memory of those days.
I like Aretha very much. I'll drop by if my computer won't let me down. Service Pack 2 is crap and shitty...
Oh Will, in a single year. I'm so sorry. It must be devastating... As I said, it's not easy, but one has to focus on good memories or else...
All the best for you.

Anónimo disse...

I was in the 11th grade when that song come out. One of the future Tony paintings, he did not offer any words as to its meaning. So, I did up my own story -- a remembered event that is dated from the week that the Beatles white album came out (where ObLaDi OnLaDa comes from). I have a extremely strange live comedy version of ObLaDi by the Beatles that i'll load up for you.

Here is a link for the Aretha song “Be Grateful” and several other that end the soundtrack of the site.


http://www.filelodge.com/files/room13/316529/BL-1D.mp3

http://www.filelodge.com/files/room13/316529/BL-1E.mp3

http://www.filelodge.com/files/1565/BL-1F.mp3

RIC disse...

YOU are a dear, Will!
As I was afraid, my computer just went amok until now (I read 5:10 on my clock!). I hope I've done now everything right, and it will work correctly.
It always moves me when someone is dedicated and kind to me. That's what's happening right now...
Thank you very much, Will! :-)

Anónimo disse...

i react the same way to kindnesses.

RIC disse...

I hope you read my last comment on your latest post on GMR... Thank you, Will... You are always very welcome around here...
Hope it's not raining so hard on Seattle... People always say it rains everyday...

Anónimo disse...

This is the most beautiful part of teh entire usa. From mid june thru late september we had .16 inches of rain (virtually no rain). Hot all summer.
Springs are an orgie of billions of flowers on every branch that starts in February and goes deep into june.

I saw the comment! Thank you.

RIC disse...

Yes, Will, it must be a Nature's paradise indeed... A friend of mine living in Toronto once spent Spring, Summer and Autumn in Vancouver at work. I saw all the magnificent pictures (tons) when I visited him in Toronto a few years ago. Wonderful place the Pacific coast... And on TV as well. I hope you go on enjoying that nice weather!
Always welcome!

Gray disse...

Ric, please allow me to leave a message to Fourhorsemen here:

I'm truly sorry to read about your triple loss! Your loss truly touched me and makes me realize how lucky I am.

My sympathies to you, sir.

RIC disse...

Be my guest, Gray! Mi casa es su casa! You're always welcome!