The Wide Blue Road

Films/DVD Asylum

Movies from comedy to drama to your favorite Hollyweird Star.

The 1957 neo-realism film starring Yves Montand gives you a piercing insight into hard life of Italian island fishermen.
The director Gillo Pontecorvo is completely unfamiliar to me, and he will not raise to the level of the best Italian masters of that period, but what he lacks in skills he more than compensates for with his love and compassion for ordinary humans.
You could look at that film and see not much but a corny story... or you could look beneath that surface and catch the strong emotions not unlike those in Bicycle Thief. One might easily argue that Montand, even though good, was somewhat miscast, but he makes such a good duet with Alida Valli, that you willingly forget the minor faults and concentrate on what they are doing so well... and she truly steals the film with her supporting performance.
And don't overlook such a little marvel as wonderful performance by Ronaldo Bonacchi, a young boy playing Montand's little son. That face will be with you for long time.
Apparently Dustin Hoffman was heavily involved in the restoration of this film, and I am glad he was...

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Topic - The Wide Blue Road - Victor Khomenko 20:44:21 05/22/05 (0)

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