Il Grido

Also known as: Cri (le)

Genre: psychological drama (in black and white)

With: Steve Cochran (Aldo), Alida Valli (Irma), Dorian Gray (Virginia), Jacqueline Jones (Andreina), Gabriella Pallotta (Edera), Pina Boldrini (Lina), Guerrino Campanilli (Virginia's father), Betsy Blair (Elvia), Mirna Girardi (Rosina)

Director: Michelangelo Antonioni

Screenplay: Michelangelo Antonioni, Elio Bartolini and Ennio De Concini (based on Antonioni’s idea)

Release: 1957

Studio: SpA Cinematografica, Robert Alexander Productions

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.8/10 

 

Anguished when Alone, Anguished with Others

 

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Story-line: the setting is a languorous Italian town in the 1950s. Irma, the mother of a schoolgirl named Rosina, learns that her husband died three weeks before in Australia. Clearly distraught, she goes to the factory where her lover Aldo is employed, leaves his lunch with a co-worker and runs off. When Aldo catches up to her and learns what has happened, he is saddened but relieved: ‟We’ll finally get married… It’s been seven years after all…” Irma, however, would rather break up with Aldo.

Pluses: splendid acting by Steve Cochran (a violently passionate, disoriented Aldo) and Alida Valli, able support from Mirna Girardi, Gabriella Pallotta, Betsy Blair and cast, first-quality direction from a renowned helmer, a simple yet riveting screenplay that goes to the point and draws topical portraits of characters in limbo, impeccable production values, Gianni Di Venanzo’s beautiful cinematography even in unsightly locales and a lyrical, sensible musical score by Giovanni Fusco.

Minuses: none I can think of. By the way, the title can be translated as ‟The Scream.”

Comments: IL GRIDO, which doesn’t qualify as an Italian neo-realist movie yet captures some of its flavour, is the touching story of a man who hits the road with his little girl to mend a broken heart and find happiness wherever fate leads him. This early work by Antonioni, blessed with limitless humanity and poetic grace, is a fascinating exploration of one man’s restless quest for fulfillment and an homage to the women − deserving or loveless − he will meet along the way. 

 

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