La commare secca (1962)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Bernardo Bertolucci

Writers:

Pier Paolo Pasolini (story)
Pier Paolo Pasolini (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

6 May 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Near the Tiber river, in a Roman park, a prostitute was killed. The police tracks down people that were inside the park during that night...

Plot Keywords:

Nonlinear Timeline

Cast

Carlotta Barilli	...	Serenella
Lorenza Benedetti	...	Milly
Clorinda Celani	...	Soraya
Vincenzo Ciccora	...	Mayor
Alvaro D'Ercole	...	Francolicchio
Giancarlo De Rosa	...	Nino
Elena Fontana
Maria Fontana
Gabriella Giorgelli	...	Esperia
Romano Labate	...	Pipito
Silvio Laurenzi	...	Homosexual
Alfredo Leggi	...	Bostelli
Santina Lisio	...	Esperia's mother
Allen Midgette	...	Teodoro, the soldier
Ada Peragostini	...	Maria
Emy Rocci	...	Domenica
Wanda Rocci	...	Prostitute
Francesco Ruiu	...	Canticchia
Marisa Solinas	...	Bruna
Erina Torelli	...	Mariella
Renato Troiani	...	Natalino

Directed by
Bernardo Bertolucci

Writing credits
Pier Paolo Pasolini		(story)
Pier Paolo Pasolini		(screenplay) &
Bernardo Bertolucci		(screenplay) &
Sergio Citti		(screenplay)

Produced by
Tonino Cervi	....	producer (as Antonio Cervi)

Original Music by
Piero Piccioni
Carlo Rustichelli

Cinematography by
Giovanni Narzisi

Film Editing by
Nino Baragli

Costume Design by
Adriana Spadaro

Production Management
Rodolfo Martello	....	production supervisor
Ugo Tucci	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Adolfo Cagnacci	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Alessandro Fortini	....	sound (as Sandro Fortini)

Camera and Electrical Department
Emanuele Di Coti	....	chief lighting technician
Orlando Dolci	....	key grip
Emilio Giannini	....	camera operator
Enrico Umetelli	....	assistant camera
Franco Valente	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Sergio Montanari	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Franco Carnevali	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Cinematografica Cervi
• Cineriz

Distributors

• Connoisseur Video
• Criterion Collection, The (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Emerald (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• Medusa Home Entertainment (2004) (Italy) (DVD)

Also Known As:

The Grim Reaper

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Argentina:16

Company:

Cinematografica Cervi

Movie Connections:

Referenced in An Opera of Violence (2003) (V)

Interesting debut film from Bertolucci

It seems like a lot of people compare this to "Rashoman" but since I have not seen that, I can't, although I know the basic story-line. What we have here is the mysterious murder of a prostitute, and several suspects who are all shown in flashback as they traverse the very park where the prostitute was murdered. There is some interaction among these people, even if it's only that they notice each other as they pass by. There are two young boys, some purse snatchers, a homosexual, a soldier, and a strange man who wears clogs. Each of them is grilled, in turn, by the police, and we hear their stories and then we see what REALLY happened, which is pretty entertaining in itself. For no story matches the actual events. All seem to be likely suspects, and none of them seem to be particularly wholesome or reputable. The film presents each story as it really occurred, and eventually the viewer does know who did it, and then it's a matter of waiting to see how the police apprehend the culprit. The photography is excellent and the story is interesting, a fine debut for someone so young (Bertolucci was supposedly in his early 20's at the time). Well worth seeing..8 out of 10.