I didn't notice until the very end that Alain Delon was dubbed!

Perhaps Visconti intended this to be a film about how 'industrialization' is causing families to become fractured, distant and otherwise selfish, and uncaring for each other. It is also more. Through the aspects of five brothers, and their elderly mother, he touches on strong family themes. But also on sacrifice, despair, and ultimately hope and if there is any. Is it always worth personal sacrifice for family? The drama is tense and moving, all in all, it's a very well done tragedy.

somehow i love to see these guys crying and shouting all the time and the mama is crying and shouting, too - its so wonderful pathetic; anyway, why is everybody afraid of being pathetic? makes me sad. io! io! io!

Long, boring movie about a bunch of no-accounts with very large mouths

A modern classic from top director Visconti. Very long, sometimes ponderous, but engrossing, complex drama.

161

This portrait of social change among a family of five brothers has a tragic tone. The family's migration to the city from their southern country home is fraught with peril, offering at best only a meager existence as a "wage slave." At worst, the city will break the spirit or worse, lead one into immoral behavior and a lack of regard for the humanity of others. Visconti captures all of this quietly and slowly, with camerawork that is, at times, exquisite.

#160

aka rocco and his brother and their mutual love interest...the climactic storyline is closer to opera in intensity than any other film i can recall. annie girardot steals this one with her tremendous portrayal of nadia. memorable scenes: nadia and rocco holding hands at the cafe, nadia and rocco standing in the trolley, simone and nadia's last meeting. final scene with luca. highly recommended.

Brilliant example of Italian neorealism. To me, it plays like a classical Greek play or something, with really overdone (in my opinion) pathos and overall drama. Still great.

Visconti's rich tragedy, mainly exploring the relationship between five brothers, is quite a powerful, low-voiced melodrama, always insisting to depict the emotional pain of the characters; the film seems to be contantly interested in the wreaking desperation of the main characters, leading up to a bleak, dim roundoff. A fine, grave drama.

Spectacular! Nearly three hours' worth of intensive and unfalteringly impeccable cinema in terms of acting, writing and perhaps especially directing. Thank heavens for the little distance created by Visconti's generous use of medium and long shots, otherwise the audience might stand the risk of combusting due to all the fiery Italian passion displayed here.

# 185

I hate to be so lukewarm on a movie by a director with whom my past experiences have been so rewarding - and I expected to love this - but I just couldn't get into it. The first two hours or so are slow and generally boring, and though the last hour is effective and emotional, by then it's too late. And while I felt that Visconti's direction was extremely graceful and artful in his other movies, something feels off here...visually, I found it bland and boring, in a way I can't describe.

Constructed competently, even artfully at times, with an excellent score and a good performance by Delon. Otherwise, I want my three hours back. The first half is a lot of treading water, really dull stuff. It gets a little more interesting after that, but at no point does it ever gel into a truly compelling story. Everyone is constantly in hysterics: shouting, getting upset, bawling their hearts out, spitting in each other's faces, slapping each other around.

Such a frustrating film, fantastic piece of neorealistic noir, however I wish the ending was slightly different, you may well see why!

Lovely cinematography and score elevates the film's melodramatic story. I actually kind of like the melodrama here, to be honest, because it feels like a grand old tragedy - broad character types, profound emotions leading to intense emotional outbursts and outrageous acts of violence - it feels very authentically Italian in spirit. I do, however, wish Visconti reigned in a few of the characters - Rocco is just too virtuous and obsequious, Simone is too much of a cad.