:
Maya Sansa,
Maya Sansa,
Luigi Lo Cascio,
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:
Marco Bellocchio,
Marco Bellocchio
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: Not Rated
: Fox Lorber
: Foreign, Italy, Political Thriller
: 105 min.
: Italian
: English
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A young couple, Chiara (Maya Sansa) and Ernesto (Pier Giorgio Bellocchio, the director's son), follow a real estate agent through a nicely secluded apartment, which they subsequently rent. They then begin doing some strange renovations. It turns out that they're not a couple at all. They're members of the Red Brigade, and the apartment is going to be used to house a kidnapped government official. Good Morning, Night is established writer/director Marco Bellocchio's take on the kidnapping of Aldo Moro, president of the Christian Democratic Party, which rocked Italian politics in the late '70s. Bellocchio tells the story from Chiara's point-of-view, as her romantic relationship with fellow cell member Primo (Giovanni Calcagno) and her allegiance to their strident leader, Mariano (Luigi Lo Cascio), is gradually shaken as she begins to develop respect and affection for their hapless captive, Moro (Roberto Herlitzka). She also begins to feel attracted to Enzo (Paolo Briguglia), a co-worker at her office job (a front for her more radical activities) who has similar political leanings, but strongly disagrees with the Red Brigade's tactics. Chiara spends hours watching Moro in his "cell" through a peephole, as he defends his political actions in a mock trial conducted by Mariano. As negotiations for Moro's release falter due to the government's hard-line stance, Chiara begins to fantasize about helping him escape. Good Morning, Night (the title comes from a poem by Emily Dickinson) was shown at the 2003 Venice Film Festival, where it won the Little Golden Lion, the "CinemAvvenire," and an award for Bellocchio's screenplay. It was also selected for the 2003 New York Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
GreenCine Says: Marco Bellocchio's Good Morning Night is based on a political kidnapping that shocked Italy twenty-five years ago. A political parable with an air of realism (of the magical variety), the film manages to be engrossing while still taking its time to reveal character. A provocative story of political belief, it would make a good double-feature with The Edukators.
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| Terrorists, Italian Style, Three Decades Previous
by talltale
April 7, 2006 - 4:35 PM PDT
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3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
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Marco Bellocchio's GOOD MORNING, NIGHT is about Italian terrorists (the Red Brigade) of the late 70s and the kidnapping of Italian premier Aldo Moro. Many of us followed this strange and nearly two-month-long chapter in the history of violence, and so Bellocchio's film will strike a chord, but very likely a much different chord--minor key, quiet, serious, humane and impressive--than expected.
The writer/director combines psychology, sociology and politics in a worthwhile, thought-provoking manner that is always compassionate but never syrupy. There are countless small moments and bits of dialog--how Moro deduces the presence of a woman in the house--that, though completely imagined, seem absolutely truthful. Bellocchio has created an homage to Moro and a dirge for what might have been, had people reasoned a bit better with themselves and each other. Interestingly, the presence of the wonderful Italian actor Luigi LoCascio as the most aggressive of the terrorists is in direct opposition to his role that same year in "The Best of Youth." Maya Sansa is also fine in the lead, as are Roberto Herlitzka as Moro and Paolo Briguglia as a sweet and thoughtful co-worker who tries to imagine the kidnapping as theatre piece.
The Pope, the police, the politicians--they're all present and accounted for, yet no one can help the situation. And it is Moro who comes off, finally, in the best light. This is a memorable piece of work that shows a former young rebel of a filmmaker to have matured rather beautifully and exceptionally. I can't wait to see his '"My Mother's Smile," due out on DVD next month (May 2006). |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.76)
17 Votes
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