Europa '51
Encyclopedia
Europa '51 is a 1952
Italian neorealist
film directed by Roberto Rossellini
, starring Ingrid Bergman
and Alexander Knox
.
, Roberto Rossellini
decided to create a film that placed a person of the saint
's character in post-war Italy
and showed what the consequences would be.
with their son Michele (Sandro Franchina). During a dinner party, Michele constantly tries to get his mother's attention, but Irene is more interested in being a good hostess to her guests than being an attentive mother. As a result, Michele attempts suicide
by falling through a stairwell several stories, fracturing his hip.
At the hospital, Irene promises to never leave Michele and to be more attentive, but he dies soon after from a blood clot. Irene is bedridden for 10 days, before enlisting the help of Andrea Casatti (Ettore Giannini
) to help her overcome her grief. Being a Communist, he takes her to the poorer parts of Rome
and leads her into donating her time and money to help people there. While there, she gives the money for a boy's medical treatment, helps a woman with six children to find a job at a factory (where she has a life changing experience working for a day in order to fill in for the woman), and cares for a woman who is dying of tuberculosis
.
As a result of helping these people, she spends less and less time at home. Her husband comes to the conclusion that she is having an affair with Andrea, which causes her to leave him. In addition, she is picked up by the police after helping a boy who had committed a theft evade arrest (she had told him to turn himself in).
While in custody, the husband and the authorities decide to put her in a mental institution. At the end of the film, she is up for review on whether she would stay there permanently with the result being that her philosophy of helping people was dangerous for the fragile post-war society. Therefore, she becomes a permanent member of the institution.
award at the 1952 Venice Film Festival
.
1952 in film
The year 1952 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 10 - Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
Italian neorealist
Italian neorealism
Italian neorealism is a style of film characterized by stories set amongst the poor and working class, filmed on location, frequently using nonprofessional actors...
film directed by Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Rossellini was one of the directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing films such as Roma città aperta to the movement.-Early life:Born in Rome, Roberto Rossellini lived on the Via Ludovisi, where Benito Mussolini had...
, starring Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute...
and Alexander Knox
Alexander Knox
Alexander Knox was a Canadian actor and author of adventure novels set in the Great Lakes area during the 19th century.-Biography:...
.
Background
Long fascinated by Francis of AssisiFrancis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
, Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Rossellini was one of the directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing films such as Roma città aperta to the movement.-Early life:Born in Rome, Roberto Rossellini lived on the Via Ludovisi, where Benito Mussolini had...
decided to create a film that placed a person of the saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
's character in post-war Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and showed what the consequences would be.
Synopsis
Irene (Bergman) and George Girard (Knox) are a wealthy couple living in post-war RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
with their son Michele (Sandro Franchina). During a dinner party, Michele constantly tries to get his mother's attention, but Irene is more interested in being a good hostess to her guests than being an attentive mother. As a result, Michele attempts suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by falling through a stairwell several stories, fracturing his hip.
At the hospital, Irene promises to never leave Michele and to be more attentive, but he dies soon after from a blood clot. Irene is bedridden for 10 days, before enlisting the help of Andrea Casatti (Ettore Giannini
Ettore Giannini
Ettore Giannini was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He wrote for eight films between 1940 and 1967.-Selected filmography:* Europa '51 * The City Stands Trial...
) to help her overcome her grief. Being a Communist, he takes her to the poorer parts of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and leads her into donating her time and money to help people there. While there, she gives the money for a boy's medical treatment, helps a woman with six children to find a job at a factory (where she has a life changing experience working for a day in order to fill in for the woman), and cares for a woman who is dying of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.
As a result of helping these people, she spends less and less time at home. Her husband comes to the conclusion that she is having an affair with Andrea, which causes her to leave him. In addition, she is picked up by the police after helping a boy who had committed a theft evade arrest (she had told him to turn himself in).
While in custody, the husband and the authorities decide to put her in a mental institution. At the end of the film, she is up for review on whether she would stay there permanently with the result being that her philosophy of helping people was dangerous for the fragile post-war society. Therefore, she becomes a permanent member of the institution.
Cast
| Actor | Role | Other notes |
| Ingrid Bergman Ingrid Bergman Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute... |
Irene Girard | main character whose son dies; dubbed in the original version by her official Italian voice Lydia Simoneschi |
| Alexander Knox Alexander Knox Alexander Knox was a Canadian actor and author of adventure novels set in the Great Lakes area during the 19th century.-Biography:... |
George Girard | her husband |
| Ettore Giannini Ettore Giannini Ettore Giannini was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He wrote for eight films between 1940 and 1967.-Selected filmography:* Europa '51 * The City Stands Trial... |
Andrea Casatti | man who tries to aid Irene's recovery |
| Giulietta Masina Giulietta Masina Giulietta Masina was an Italian film and stage actress. She starred in La Strada and Nights of Cabiria, both winners of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, in 1956 and 1957, respectively... |
Passerotto | |
| Marcella Rovena Marcella Rovena Marcella Rovena was an Italian film and voice actress. Born in Conegliano, she started her career on the big screen in 1932 with director Nunzio Malasomma in the film La telefonista.-Selected filmography:... |
Mrs. Puglisi | |
| Tina Perna | Cesira | |
| Sandro Franchina | Michele Girard | Irene's son |
Awards
Ingrid Bergman won the 1953 Silver Ribbon award from the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists for her performance. In addition, Roberto Rossellini won the International Award and was nominated for the Golden LionGolden Lion
Il Leone d’Oro is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry's most distinguished prizes...
award at the 1952 Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
.