Paolo il caldo
Encyclopedia
Paolo il caldo is the title of a novel by Vitaliano Brancati
, and also of a 1974 Italian
film based on that novel.
and in Rome
around the time of the Second World War. It tells the story of a Sicilian baron who gives in to desires of the flesh, beginning at an early age and continuing through his adulthood, when he realizes what an empty life he has led. The book explores the themes of sex
ual passion
and of lust
, sometimes unbridled and morbid
.
The novel was published in 1955, a year after the author's death. Its publication was authorized in a note that Brancati penned two days before his passing, in which he explained that the planned two final chapters of the novel had not been written.
written by Marco Vicario
. Vicario also directed the movie, that was played by Giancarlo Giannini
in the role of Paolo and Rossana Podestà
as Lilia.
Vitaliano Brancati
Vitaliano Brancati was an Italian writer. He was born in Pachino and died in Turin. In 1950 he won the Bagutta Prize.-Selected bibliography:* Don Juan in Sicily * The Handsome Antonio...
, and also of a 1974 Italian
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...
film based on that novel.
The novel
The novel is set in CataniaCatania
Catania is an Italian city on the east coast of Sicily facing the Ionian Sea, between Messina and Syracuse. It is the capital of the homonymous province, and with 298,957 inhabitants it is the second-largest city in Sicily and the tenth in Italy.Catania is known to have a seismic history and...
and in 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...
around the time of the Second World War. It tells the story of a Sicilian baron who gives in to desires of the flesh, beginning at an early age and continuing through his adulthood, when he realizes what an empty life he has led. The book explores the themes of sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
ual passion
Passion (emotion)
Passion is a term applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something....
and of lust
Lust
Lust is an emotional force that is directly associated with the thinking or fantasizing about one's desire, usually in a sexual way.-Etymology:The word lust is phonetically similar to the ancient Roman lustrum, which literally meant "purification"...
, sometimes unbridled and morbid
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
.
The novel was published in 1955, a year after the author's death. Its publication was authorized in a note that Brancati penned two days before his passing, in which he explained that the planned two final chapters of the novel had not been written.
The movie
A movie was developed from Brancati's novel, with the screenplayScreenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
written by Marco Vicario
Marco Vicario
Marco Vicario is an Italian film actor, screenwriter, film producer and director. He appeared in 23 films between 1950 and 1958. He also wrote for 13 films, produced 12 and directed a further 11.He was born in Rome, Italy.-Selected filmography:...
. Vicario also directed the movie, that was played by Giancarlo Giannini
Giancarlo Giannini
Giancarlo Giannini is an Italian actor and dubber.Giannini was born La Spezia, Liguria, Italy. He studied at the Accademia Nazionale d'Arte Drammatica in Rome, and made his film debut in a small part in Fango sulla metropoli in 1965...
in the role of Paolo and Rossana Podestà
Rossana Podestà
Rossana Podestà is a former Italian actress.-Life:She was born in the Italian colony of Libya, where she spent her first years in Tripoli and later moved to Rome after World War II...
as Lilia.