"Paisà" is one of greatest films in the history of cinema - it shows the Second World War in Italy, from the Anglo-American landing in Sicily to the fight led by Americans and partisans in Northern Italy during the last months of the war. Nonprofessional actors (Italians, Americans, British and Germans) speaking their own languages, are used to show the conflicting forces, giving a kaleidoscope feel to the film.
"Paisà" is an epic but not in the hollywoodian way. This film has the feeling of truth. It shows the war and the people involved in it and gives you glimpses of cruelty, tenderness, idealism, lives shattered and crushed, beauty and horror. It is not like the traditional American war movies in which there are big battles led by cardboard people, in which the good guys fight the bad guys and, of course, the good ones always win.
When I was a kid - having seen many western and war movies - Indians and Nazis didn't look that different to me - the first ones rode horses and shot arrows, while the second ones drove tanks and shot machine guns - they were the bad guys.
Now to "Paisà". There are 6 episodes - they offer a wide panorama of what the fight in Italy must have been like. This film is a must-see for history buffs and/or cinema lovers . I will give you an idea of the stories.
Possible spoilers ahead!
I think that there are no real spoilers ahead - nothing that you won't find on the back cover of the DVD, but if you want to watch the film with no previous knowledge at all, don't go ahead! Here it goes:
1st) The Americans land in Sicily - it is the story of Joe, an American soldier, and Maria, a Sicilian peasant girl. A moving story, worthy of the Greek drama, is told with brisk strokes and few words.
2nd) The Americans in Naples - A black GI meets a homeless Neapolitan boy (or the other way around). The kid does what he can in order to survive - stealing and so on . In the beginning the soldier is angry with him. Afterwards, he makes a deeper acquaintance with the squalor and poverty in which most Neapolitans have to live. He is left speechless. Does it ring a bell for him?
3rd) The Americans in Rome - the Americans enter Rome acclaimed by the people, they are applauded, girls throw flowers to the soldiers... In this moment, an American soldier gets to know a roman girl. She invites him to her house and offers him water. After refreshing himself he has to leave her in order to join the parading soldiers. This was just a chance meeting, they will not see each other again. Six months later.....
4th) The fight in Florence - the Germans still hold Florence. An American nurse and an Italian meet in a hospital located in an area already liberated by the allies. They intend to enter Florence. He is looking for his family and she looks for the man she loves....
5th) A convent in Northern Italy - this episode is the only one that takes place in a peaceful place - a convent - but one can say that maybe it's the most ironic story of the lot. Three American priests pay visit to a convent and ask for lodgings for some days. One is a catholic priest, the other one is a protestant and the third one is of the Jewish faith. The monks are horrified when they discover that a Jew and a protestant are inside their convent. A hot theological debate ensues. It's almost funny: Europe being plunged into a blood bath, and people inside the safe walls of a convent discussing metaphysical questions! A symbol for alienation. Well, this is my reading. I think that Rossellini just tells the story and leaves the interpretation to the viewer, but anyway it's an interesting story. See it for yourself.
6th) Fight in Northern Italy - American soldiers fight together with Italian partisans against superior German forces. Americans and Italians are encircled. The fight is desperate....
This is a beautiful film. It will show you the many sides of the war that war films normally don't show. Because, in reality, war is everything: not just the battles and soldiers, but the cities, people, love, hunger, children, loneliness, hope. Some way or other, the whole community takes part in a war and the victims are not just the killed and wounded, but everyone.
"Paisà" will give you a living and moving picture of the war in Italy. It's a great film.
"Paisà" is an epic but not in the hollywoodian way. This film has the feeling of truth. It shows the war and the people involved in it and gives you glimpses of cruelty, tenderness, idealism, lives shattered and crushed, beauty and horror. It is not like the traditional American war movies in which there are big battles led by cardboard people, in which the good guys fight the bad guys and, of course, the good ones always win.
When I was a kid - having seen many western and war movies - Indians and Nazis didn't look that different to me - the first ones rode horses and shot arrows, while the second ones drove tanks and shot machine guns - they were the bad guys.
Now to "Paisà". There are 6 episodes - they offer a wide panorama of what the fight in Italy must have been like. This film is a must-see for history buffs and/or cinema lovers . I will give you an idea of the stories.
Possible spoilers ahead!
I think that there are no real spoilers ahead - nothing that you won't find on the back cover of the DVD, but if you want to watch the film with no previous knowledge at all, don't go ahead! Here it goes:
1st) The Americans land in Sicily - it is the story of Joe, an American soldier, and Maria, a Sicilian peasant girl. A moving story, worthy of the Greek drama, is told with brisk strokes and few words.
2nd) The Americans in Naples - A black GI meets a homeless Neapolitan boy (or the other way around). The kid does what he can in order to survive - stealing and so on . In the beginning the soldier is angry with him. Afterwards, he makes a deeper acquaintance with the squalor and poverty in which most Neapolitans have to live. He is left speechless. Does it ring a bell for him?
3rd) The Americans in Rome - the Americans enter Rome acclaimed by the people, they are applauded, girls throw flowers to the soldiers... In this moment, an American soldier gets to know a roman girl. She invites him to her house and offers him water. After refreshing himself he has to leave her in order to join the parading soldiers. This was just a chance meeting, they will not see each other again. Six months later.....
4th) The fight in Florence - the Germans still hold Florence. An American nurse and an Italian meet in a hospital located in an area already liberated by the allies. They intend to enter Florence. He is looking for his family and she looks for the man she loves....
5th) A convent in Northern Italy - this episode is the only one that takes place in a peaceful place - a convent - but one can say that maybe it's the most ironic story of the lot. Three American priests pay visit to a convent and ask for lodgings for some days. One is a catholic priest, the other one is a protestant and the third one is of the Jewish faith. The monks are horrified when they discover that a Jew and a protestant are inside their convent. A hot theological debate ensues. It's almost funny: Europe being plunged into a blood bath, and people inside the safe walls of a convent discussing metaphysical questions! A symbol for alienation. Well, this is my reading. I think that Rossellini just tells the story and leaves the interpretation to the viewer, but anyway it's an interesting story. See it for yourself.
6th) Fight in Northern Italy - American soldiers fight together with Italian partisans against superior German forces. Americans and Italians are encircled. The fight is desperate....
This is a beautiful film. It will show you the many sides of the war that war films normally don't show. Because, in reality, war is everything: not just the battles and soldiers, but the cities, people, love, hunger, children, loneliness, hope. Some way or other, the whole community takes part in a war and the victims are not just the killed and wounded, but everyone.
"Paisà" will give you a living and moving picture of the war in Italy. It's a great film.