The work of Italian director Ermanno Olmi should merit a wider distribution, but unfortunately, his films are not seen often enough. His masterpiece "Il posto" was one of the best things that came out of Italy in the 1960s. That is why we were grateful when this film from 1969 showed on a cable channel recently.
The story centers around an advertising executive with a successful career. The agency is controlled by a German firm. He appears to be a happily married man, whose wife stays at home. In flashbacks we get to see a little of a secret relationship he had with a gorgeous researcher, employed by his firm. The director, as he is only identified in the plot, witnesses how his superior suffers a mild stroke during an important meeting. A traumatizing occurrence, nevertheless, because it makes the director aware of his own mortality.
The director loves his house in Tuscany, where he goes occasionally to hunt. He adores the dogs he keeps in the property. The incident with his superior catapults him to a better position. He is shocked when he goes to visit the convalescing colleague, whose whole life has changed when he was so close to a possible death.
As the director is traveling on a solitary road on his way to the airport, and rapt in conversation with a woman assistant, they hear what appears to be a stone that was on the highway, hits the car. Investigating as to what has been the cause, they stop the car to check. The director and the woman watch in horror as an older man lays on the side, injured. The car must have hit a cart the peasant was pushing, something the people in the car didn't notice.
This particular incident makes the director evaluate his life and the situation he has innocently provoked. While his lawyer does everything to get him a suspended sentence, the director realizes his life, while successful, has not given him any satisfaction because he has neglected his wife and daughter that love him, in pursuit of material things.
Mr. Olmi, who also wrote the screenplay, wanted to make a statement about how certain individuals, while being basically honest, get sidetracked into other unimportant things in life. While the director is a good man, certain parts of his past come to the surface as he has to face the death of a man who dies because of a freakish accident he causes.
The best thing in the film is Brunetto Del Vita, an actor unknown to us. The actor gives an effortless performance A rich portrayal full of nuances. It was a pleasure to have caught with this forgotten film. There is also an excellent appearance by Lidia Fuortes, who obviously didn't appear in anything else.
Lamberto Caimi, the cinematographer, captures the wintry scenes, setting the mood to better enjoy the movie. The original musical score is by Gino Negri. Ermanno Olmi directed with his usual style, paying close attention to the story and the consequences it had on a man at a crossroads of his life.
The story centers around an advertising executive with a successful career. The agency is controlled by a German firm. He appears to be a happily married man, whose wife stays at home. In flashbacks we get to see a little of a secret relationship he had with a gorgeous researcher, employed by his firm. The director, as he is only identified in the plot, witnesses how his superior suffers a mild stroke during an important meeting. A traumatizing occurrence, nevertheless, because it makes the director aware of his own mortality.
The director loves his house in Tuscany, where he goes occasionally to hunt. He adores the dogs he keeps in the property. The incident with his superior catapults him to a better position. He is shocked when he goes to visit the convalescing colleague, whose whole life has changed when he was so close to a possible death.
As the director is traveling on a solitary road on his way to the airport, and rapt in conversation with a woman assistant, they hear what appears to be a stone that was on the highway, hits the car. Investigating as to what has been the cause, they stop the car to check. The director and the woman watch in horror as an older man lays on the side, injured. The car must have hit a cart the peasant was pushing, something the people in the car didn't notice.
This particular incident makes the director evaluate his life and the situation he has innocently provoked. While his lawyer does everything to get him a suspended sentence, the director realizes his life, while successful, has not given him any satisfaction because he has neglected his wife and daughter that love him, in pursuit of material things.
Mr. Olmi, who also wrote the screenplay, wanted to make a statement about how certain individuals, while being basically honest, get sidetracked into other unimportant things in life. While the director is a good man, certain parts of his past come to the surface as he has to face the death of a man who dies because of a freakish accident he causes.
The best thing in the film is Brunetto Del Vita, an actor unknown to us. The actor gives an effortless performance A rich portrayal full of nuances. It was a pleasure to have caught with this forgotten film. There is also an excellent appearance by Lidia Fuortes, who obviously didn't appear in anything else.
Lamberto Caimi, the cinematographer, captures the wintry scenes, setting the mood to better enjoy the movie. The original musical score is by Gino Negri. Ermanno Olmi directed with his usual style, paying close attention to the story and the consequences it had on a man at a crossroads of his life.
