Monday November 3, 7:30pm
Una Vita Violenta (A Violent Life)
by Paolo Heusch and Brunello Rondi
adaptation of the novel by Pier Paolo Pasolini
suggested donation $6 – free for Members
Microscope is pleased to present Una Vita Violenta (A Violent Life) based on the novel of the same title by the Italian poet, writer, artist and film director Pier Paolo Pasolini after a copy serendipitously arrived in the mail. We were already thinking about Pasolini given current attention to Abel Ferrara’s new film Pasolini about the last day of his life and the release of the English translations of his selected poetry by Chicago University Press.
This 1961 black and white narrative feature is considered to be quite faithful to the Pasolini’s book of the same title, which is the second in what was conceived as 3 novels set in the slums of post-war Rome. With elements of Bildungsroman, film noir, and Italian neorealism the film follows several years in the life of the main character Tommaso from a violent teen with fascist leanings to an awakened young man still unable to escape the tragedy of his circumstances.
The lead role is played by Franco Citti, an untrained actor, who also starred in several of Pasolini’s own films including Accattone (1961), Mamma Rosa (1962), Edipo Re (Oepdipus Rex,1968), Porcile (Pigsty, 1969), and Il Decameron (The Decameron,1971). Una Vita Violenta is directed by film writers and directors PAOLO HEUSCH and BRUNELLO RONDI, the latter of whom is best known as a script writer on Frederico Fellini’s films including La Dolce Vita (1960), 8 1/2 (1963), Satyricon (1969) among others. The film has rarely shown in the US, but was screened last winter at Spectacle Theater.
Microscope Gallery gratefully acknowledges the Robert D. Bielecki Foundation as the Official Sponsor of our Event Series
