Salvatore Giuliano

Review of Salvatore Giuliano (1962)

Directed by Francesco Rosi, Salvatore Giuliano (1962) is a gripping, politically charged Italian film that blends the genres of crime drama and historical reconstruction. The film portrays the life and death of Salvatore Giuliano, a real-life Sicilian bandit who became a legendary figure in post-war Italy. Giuliano's story is tragic, marked by his transformation from a rebellious hero to a notorious outlaw and his eventual murder under mysterious circumstances.

Rosi's approach to the material is unique. The film doesn't rely on a traditional narrative structure but instead unfolds in a fragmented, almost documentary-like fashion, presenting the story from various perspectives. This method of storytelling creates a sense of disorientation, mirroring the confusion and corruption of the political and social forces at play in post-WWII Sicily. By juxtaposing the personal tragedy of Giuliano with the larger political landscape of Italy, the film reveals the complex intersections between crime, politics, and the Sicilian mafia.

The performances are strong, with a particularly noteworthy portrayal of Giuliano by Marcello Mastroianni, whose quiet intensity brings depth to a character that is both a symbol of resistance and a product of the violent environment in which he lives. Rosi's direction maintains a cold, observational tone, which works well to emphasize the film's themes of disillusionment and betrayal.

Visually, the film is stunning, with cinematography that captures the stark beauty of the Sicilian landscape while also reflecting the harsh realities of life for the people caught in the web of organized crime and political corruption. The stark black-and-white visuals, coupled with the atmospheric score by Francesco De Masi, enhance the film's somber and tense mood.

Salvatore Giuliano is an excellent example of the political cinema that emerged in Italy during the post-neorealist era. It's not just a crime story; it's an exploration of the corruption and disillusionment that permeated Italian society during the 1940s and '50s. While the film might feel slow or fragmented at times, its depth and ambition make it a fascinating and insightful watch for those interested in the intersection of politics, history, and cinema.

Rating: 4/5 - A thought-provoking, well-crafted historical drama that shines a light on the murky intersection of crime and politics in post-war Sicily.

Exciting introduction My rating for the movie is ten out of ten, and an exciting introduction. Follow it. I advise you not to miss it. It is truly extremely enjoyable It is very interesting and has many events. Follow it, grab your favorite drink and enjoy If you have time and are looking for a movie, don't miss it. This is a great piece of advice. Go in and watch it, don't hesitate. After: Exciting My rating for the movie is ten out of ten, and an exciting introduction. Follow it. I advise you not to miss it. It is truly extremely enjoyable It is very interesting and has many events. Follow it, grab your favorite drink and enjoy If you have time and are looking for a movie, don't miss it. This is a great piece of advice. Go in and watch it, don't hesitate.

Interesting neo-realistic, quasi-documentary film with notable editing. But did the film deserve the Best Director award at Berlin over Bergman's "Through a glass darkly"? The Swedish film was superior. Martin Scorsese likes it because he can identify with the Italian politics and sociology of that time. The Rosi film is good but overrated.

This remarkable movie reminded me of early Eisenstein for the fluid, dynamic

movement of crowds--in the streets, in the movement of soldiers and bandits across the hilly terrain, and in the scene of the Portella della Ginestre massacre. The back-and-forth narrative structure must have influenced Costa-Gavras in the making of "Z." And Rosi's ability to get riveting performances from non-professionals (some of whom could not read scripts) is astonishing. The story line gets confusing, but I think that's because the situation was confusing--multiple betrayals and layers of

corruption and complicity--rather than a flaw in the script or editing. Visually exciting, too--the use of distancing overhead shots, the quiet menace of gunmen walking up a deserted, sun-baked street... memorable stuff.

Francesco Rosi's cinema are around political matters, a tough subject too swallow for usual cinephiles, due the hard life which we lives are enough to stand, but some facts needs a better understanding as this picture suggests, how Sicily gets his independence from Italy is plentiful explained here, each facts were expose in this overlong picture, but Francesco wisely put forward a cursed triangle of forces, the mob, the separatists and the dangerous outlaws who help them in hope to get their crime's amnesty, after they got Sicily's autonomy starts another hard issue, the communist, such thing was totally inconceivable to Italian standards at it's time, a mass killing was prompt provides by the rich farmers and also by the mob, the Giuliano the leader almost didn't appears on the movie, his second on command and your fellows conrades in-arms were charged by the massacre, interesting picture over this dry land on Italy's south, the mountainous island Sicily !!!

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First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8