During the 2020 global pandemic, with millions under house arrest, it's been interesting to watch this religious "lockdown" film made in 1952. Many Italians at that time would voluntarily retreat to a monastery to undergo a period of prayer, meditation and spiritual reappraisal. They would be confined to their rooms, only coming out for meals and to attend sermons. We see five such penitents, each with their own story to tell.
Pio Fabiani is a candle maker whose trade is being threatened by the introduction of electric candles. He is at risk of losing his livelihood, as much a tragedy then as it is today. Then there is politician Andrea Sanna, a former partisan who is haunted by a war time mission. Whilst blowing up a platoon of Germans on a bridge, he realises at the last moment that two children and their grandfather are also crossing the bridge. In his nightmares he sees a swarm of ants, all that was left of the innocents.
Pulp fiction writer Mario Rossi is aware that his writings have corrupted the young. In court we see Angiolina De Bellis (a beautiful 18-year old Rossana Podesta) who has auctioned her clothes in the catacombs. The trouble is, they were the clothes she was actually wearing, but at least one of the boys gallantly throws a blanket over her at the conclusion of the auction.
Then, Francesco Ferro, an ex-prisoner-of-war, has returned home to his wife and daughter after being presumed dead. But his wife has remarried and had a second child. The monastery staff try to talk Francesco out of suicide. Finally, a pickpocket has only entered the monastery because the police were on his tail. Even he is transformed by the experience and leaves his ill-gotten goods as an offering to the Madonna.
Binding the five stories is the plight of a young priest who is losing his faith. He resigns from the monastery and sets off down the road in plain clothes. Almost immediately a young woman is mortally injured in a road accident. The crowd calls for a priest and our friend administers the last rites, whereupon the woman (expressive actress Goliarda Sapienza) smiles lovingly and dies. The priest knows he has to return to his post and we get a traditional uplifting finale. Of course, Enzo Masetti lays on the treacle, but it's top quality treacle from a top quality composer. The DVD from Gaumont is in French, but the print is clear and certainly worth a look.
Pio Fabiani is a candle maker whose trade is being threatened by the introduction of electric candles. He is at risk of losing his livelihood, as much a tragedy then as it is today. Then there is politician Andrea Sanna, a former partisan who is haunted by a war time mission. Whilst blowing up a platoon of Germans on a bridge, he realises at the last moment that two children and their grandfather are also crossing the bridge. In his nightmares he sees a swarm of ants, all that was left of the innocents.
Pulp fiction writer Mario Rossi is aware that his writings have corrupted the young. In court we see Angiolina De Bellis (a beautiful 18-year old Rossana Podesta) who has auctioned her clothes in the catacombs. The trouble is, they were the clothes she was actually wearing, but at least one of the boys gallantly throws a blanket over her at the conclusion of the auction.
Then, Francesco Ferro, an ex-prisoner-of-war, has returned home to his wife and daughter after being presumed dead. But his wife has remarried and had a second child. The monastery staff try to talk Francesco out of suicide. Finally, a pickpocket has only entered the monastery because the police were on his tail. Even he is transformed by the experience and leaves his ill-gotten goods as an offering to the Madonna.
Binding the five stories is the plight of a young priest who is losing his faith. He resigns from the monastery and sets off down the road in plain clothes. Almost immediately a young woman is mortally injured in a road accident. The crowd calls for a priest and our friend administers the last rites, whereupon the woman (expressive actress Goliarda Sapienza) smiles lovingly and dies. The priest knows he has to return to his post and we get a traditional uplifting finale. Of course, Enzo Masetti lays on the treacle, but it's top quality treacle from a top quality composer. The DVD from Gaumont is in French, but the print is clear and certainly worth a look.