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Novecento (1976)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
12/10
12/10:
After finishing Novecento aka 1900, I watched the interviews with Bernardo Bertolucci and
Ludovico Bettarello to help clear up some of the mystery.
It's basically about generations of families that span five decades in Italy, hence the running length of
five hours and fifteen minutes. As confirmed by the director, it's also politically-driven. Although
Novecento was released in the United States, I have to be an European, let alone an Italian, to
understand and appreciate everything.
Bernardo Bertolucci is correct by stating the culture and identity of Italians had been slowly eroded
during the 20th century. So, does it mean Novecento is redundant? No, absolutely not. On the contrary,
it's a near masterpiece, probably a difficult picture for Bernardo Bertolucci to direct because he put many
aspects together while achieving balance. There's no flaw throughout, but confusion does come to me in
regard to the number of years that had passed between events.
For example, at the beginning, I didn't realize the two boys were born on the same day, but I knew their childhood
friendship would be tested against time because that's how both stopped from killing each other. Therefore, it's
an important theme. Then, shifting attention away from it, a bigger one is the common bond among farmers and also
among landowners. Hence, Novecento is a film of two social classes in conflict with one another.
That's what it's all about. Meanwhile, the cinematography is magnificent, the pace is deliberate, and the acting is
equally excellent throughout.
All in all, Novecento is a well-crafted work of art that needs to be viewed again.