In “Ossessione 1944,” a drifter named Gino is like a moth to the flame of a married restaurant owner named Giovanna. Their passion ignites, leading to murder and desperation as they try to escape their fate. The film is a gritty and intense examination of obsession and desire, with stunning cinematography capturing the raw emotions of the characters. It’s a classic film noir that will leave you breathless.
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Review
When watching movies, we can sometimes find ourselves fixated with certain characters, scenes and moments. We become absorbed in the story and invested in the outcome. This is especially true for a movie like “Ossessione,” a classic Italian film that has captured the hearts of many cinema enthusiasts over the years.
“Ossessione” was released in 1943 and directed by Luchino Visconti. It was his first feature film, and one that would end up changing the course of Italian cinema forever. Based on James M. Cain’s novel “The Postman Always Rings Twice,” “Ossessione” tells the story of Gino, a drifter who falls in love with Giovanna, the wife of a bumbling small-town café owner. The two soon begin an affair that leads to greed, betrayal and ultimately tragedy.
The movie was groundbreaking for its time. It was considered scandalous due to its sexual content and portrayal of adultery on screen. It also featured a new style of filmmaking that eschewed traditional studio lighting and used natural light instead. This gave the film a more realistic look that was not typical for movies at that time.
Moreover, the movie marked the beginning of neorealism- an Italian film movement characterized by stories set amongst lower-class people filmed on location using non-professional actors – as it left behind Hollywood escapism in favour of gritty reality-driven social commentary.
The cast consisted mostly of unknown actors at the time- Massimo Girotti played Gino while Clara Calamai starred as Giovanna- but they delivered some of their best performances on screen. Their chemistry helped to elevate the tension between them, making their characters alluringly unpredictable.
One memorable scene features Gino smoking a cigarette while sitting next to Giovanna in her bedroom as she undresses; The camera lingers on her bare back before cutting to him seductively blowing smoke rings while watching her. This scene was groundbreaking at the time as it broke censorship rules and was a first for onscreen nudity in Italian cinema.
Another notable aspect of the movie is the cinematography. It captures the rural landscapes of Italy beautifully, emphasizing the contrast between urban and rural life, reflecting how industrialization is encroaching on traditional ways of life. The slow camera movements also build up the tension in some scenes, making them all the more gripping and emotionally charged.
The film’s soundtrack is sparse but effective. It heightens emotions without overpowering them using simple piano notes to punctuate key moments like Giovanna’s longing stare out of a window or Gino’s desperate escape attempts from his own obsessions.
Despite being banned by Italian censors for over a decade due to its scandalous nature, “Ossessione” eventually gained popularity globally and has since become a classic of Italian cinema history.
In conclusion, “Ossessione” represents a turning point in cinema history and film-making. It introduced neorealism to an international audience while changing Italian cinema forever. Its controversial nature, along with its beautiful cinematography and masterful acting performances, combined to make it one of the most important films ever made- one that continues to captivate audiences even after decades since its release.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 140
- Release : 1944-04-08
- Genre : Crime, Drama, Romance
- Cast : Clara Calamai as Giovanna Bragana, Massimo Girotti as Gino Costa, Dhia Cristiani as Anita, Elio Marcuzzo as The Spaniard, Vittorio Duse as Police Officer
- Crew : Alberto Moravia as Screenplay, Gianni Di Venanzo as Camera Operator, James M. Cain as Novel, Luchino Visconti as Screenplay, Luchino Visconti as Director
- Popularity 9.061
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : 0
- Company : Industrie Cinematografiche Italiane (ICI)
- Summary : Gino, a drifter, begins an affair with inn-owner Giovanna as they plan to get rid of her older husband.
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