Paisà (1946)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Roberto Rossellini

Writers:

Sergio Amidei (story) &
Klaus Mann (story) ...

Release Date:

29 March 1948 (USA)

Genre:

War | Drama

Plot:

Six vignettes follow the Allied invasion from July 1943 to winter 1944, from Sicily north to Venice...

Plot Keywords:

Partisan | Nurse | Street Urchin | Sicily | Movie Divided In Episodes

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Carmela Sazio	...	Carmela (episode I: Sicilia)
Robert Van Loon	...	Joe, the American soldier (episode I: Sicilia)
Benjamin Emanuel	...	An American soldier (episode I: Sicilia)
Raymond Campbell	...	An American soldier (episode I: Sicilia)
Harold Wagner	...	Harry, a German soldier (episode I: Sicilia)
Albert Heinze	...	A German soldier (episode I: Sicilia)
Merlin Berth	...	Merlin, an American soldier (episode I: Sicilia)
Mats Carlson	...	Swede, an American soldier (episode I: Sicilia)
Leonard Parrish	...	An American soldier (episode I: Sicilia) (as Leonard Penish)
Dots Johnson	...	Joe - the American MP (episode II: Napoli) (as Dots M. Johnson)
Alfonsino Pasca	...	Pasquale (episode II: Napoli) (as Alfonsino)
Maria Michi	...	Francesca (episode III: Roma)
Gar Moore	...	Fred, an American soldier (episode III: Roma)
Harriet Medin	...	Harriet, the nurse (episode IV: Firenze) (as Harriet White)
Renzo Avanzo	...	Massimo (episode IV: Firenze)

Also Known As:

Paisan (USA)

Runtime:

USA:120 min | 134 min (restored version) | Italy:125 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | English | German | Sicilian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Italy:T | USA:Approved (PCA #4698) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Company:

Organizzazione Film Internazionali (OFI)

Trivia:

The film is divided in six episodes simply called 'Episode I', 'Episode II' etc. The action of the six different stories takes place, respectively, in Sicily (Episode I), Naples (Episode II), Rome (Episode III), Florence (Episode IV), a monastery in the Appenine Range (Episode V), Porte Tolle in the Po delta (Episode VI).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in L'uomo dal sigaro in bocca (1997)

Neorealism at its best

Just when you thought that the cinema form had lost its capacity to carry an important social message without the use of artsy-fartsy rethoric, there comes "Paisà"; a masterpiece for the ages. Rosselini is a name that must be spoken of in all schools and universities of the world. His ability (combined to a perfect script) to convey emotional meaning in film with the use of non-professional actors, natural locations, and still be able to make it VIBRANT and EXCITING... it´s uncanny. The power of the stories told in "Paisà", although very distant in time and geography (for me, anyways) compells any intelligent human being to stand up against every kind of dictatorship and violence. On top of all that, Rosselini doesn´t use cheap tricks to win the public´s heart through melodramatics. His films are very down-to-earth and often take a distance from their main characters, which helps our rational analysis of the situation without being blinded by passion. Like Brecht used to do, i think.

All six stories are my favorites, but I particularly like the monastery segment. It portrays religious prejudice by christian monks towards two priests, one jewish and another a lutheran, right in the middle of the war. To the absurdity of all, the monks come to the priests´ companion, a Christian, to make them realize "the true path". One more time, Rosselini doesn´t end the segment with lessons of moral; its ending is very ambiguous and ironic. "Paisà" is a gem; i like it better than "Roma, Città Aperta", also a masterpiece of neorealism.