Rocco and his Brothers 1960
Distributed by Milestone Films & Video, PO Box 128, Harrington Park, NJ 07640-0128; 800-603-1104
Produced by Goffredo Lombardo
Directed by Luchino Visconti
DVD , b&w, 177 min., Italian with English subtitles
General Adult
Film, Italian Cinema
Date Entered: 10/26/2018
Reviewed by Barb Kundanis, Longmont Public Library, Longmont, CORocco and His Brothers is a 1960 film by Luchino Visconti (Ossessione 1943, The Leopard 1963) that tells the story of a mother and her sons (of the title) who come to Milan from the South in search of a better life. They meet Nadia (Annie Girardot) who encourages the boxing life for quick money and gets involved with two of the brothers, which leads to jealousy and tragedy.
Shot in black and white and beautifully restored here, Rocco presents Italy at this time in a realistic way. The Nino Rota score adds to the atmosphere. Alain Delon plays Rocco who is sensitive as opposed to his brother Simone (Renato Salvatori) who is a brute.
Film students interested in Italian cinema and Visconti will appreciate this restoration. Those studying the culture and history of Italy will be able to see a glimpse of what life was like at that time. One of the strongest scenes is of Nadia and Rocco talking in a cafe, honestly sharing their feelings.