Italian Francesco Rosi directed Three Brothers, based on a work by Russian author Andrei Platonov, starring Philippe Noiret, Vittorio Mezzogiorno, Michele Placido and Charles Vanel.
Set in a farmhouse in southern Italy, the story begins when an old woman, the matriarch of an Italian family, dies.
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Film poster
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Her husband, Donato, summons their three adult sons, each of whom burdened by personal problems, back to their farmhouse from their respective cities.
One son, Raffaele (Philippe Noiret), a judge living in Rome, is about to preside over a terrorism case, risking assassination.
Another son, Rocco, who lives in Naples, is religious and works as counselor at boys’ correctional institute, fulfilling his dream of helping troubled teenagers.
The third son, Nicola, who lives in Turin, is a militant factory worker involved in a labor dispute, and is dealing with a failed marriage.
Each of the men grieves in his own way, while also wrestling with other emotional issues.
The sons recall the past and engage in reveries of what may come. Raffaele imagines his death, Rocco dreams of lifting the youth of Naples out of violence, drugs, and corruption, and Nicola thinks of embracing his estranged wife.
Meanwhile, the old man finds solace while grieving with his young granddaughter, Nicola’s child.
Critical Status:
The film was screened out of competition at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival.
The film won the Boston Society of Film Critics award for Best Foreign Film, and the Nastro d’Argento for Best Director and Actor.
My Oscar Book:
Three Brothers received a nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film Osar but it did not win
Cast
Philippe Noiret – Raffaele Giuranna
Michele Placido – Nicola Giuranna
Vittorio Mezzogiorno – Rocco Giuranna
Andréa Ferréol – Raffaele’s wife
Maddalena Crippa – Giovanna
Rosaria Tafuri – Rosaria
Marta Zoffoli [it] – Marta
Tino Schirinzi – Raffaele’s friend
Simonetta Stefanelli – young Donato’s wife
Pietro Biondi – first judge
Charles Vanel – Donato Giuranna
Gina Pontrelli – the brothers’ mother
Credits:
Directed by Francesco Rosi
Written by Tonino Guerra, Rosi
Produced by Giorgio Nocella, Antonio Macrì
Cinematography Pasqualino De Santis
Edited by Ruggero Mastroianni
Music by Pino Daniele, Piero Piccioni
Release date: May 15, 1981 (France)
Running time: 113 minutes
