L'amore (1948)

In the first episode, a heartbroken woman talks to her ex-lover on the phone. In the second, a pregnant woman believes she is carrying the child of Saint Joseph.

Director:

Roberto Rossellini

Writers:

Jean Cocteau (play), Federico Fellini (story),

Stars:

Anna Magnani, Federico Fellini, Peparuolo

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview:
Anna Magnani	...	The woman (segment "Una voce umana") / Nannina (segment "Il miracolo")

Storyline

A simple woman sleeps with a bum, portrayed by Fellini, under the impression that he is Saint Joseph. She then makes plans to give birth to Jesus Christ and is greeted by derision by the people of her village.

---

Plot Keywords:

miracle | pregnancy | purity | peasant | foreign language adaptation | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

8 February 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amore

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Finecine, Tevere Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 4472 delivered on 30-8-1948.

---

Connections

Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Une histoire seule (1989)

User Reviews

The Art of Anna Magnani

After the opening credits we see a title that says "This film is an homage to the art of Anna Magnani" and that's exactly what this powerful Rossellini film is about. Magnani dominates both sections of "L'Amore" and is quite remarkable. In the first section which is called "Una Voce Umana"(The Human Voice), Magnani plays a woman in her bedroom who makes a desperate telephone call with her former husband. It is mostly comprised of close-ups of Magnani's grieving face, anticipating those of Rossellini's films starring Ingrid Bergman. In the second section, "Il Maracolo"(The Miracle), Magnani is a peasant who meets and is seduced by a vagabond whom she thinks is Saint Joseph. Though the villagers incessantly ridicule her, she thinks is pregnant with a Christ baby, something that angered the censors and religious groups, ultimately dubbing as "blasphemous". "The Miracle" section is by far the most powerful and provocative". It is characterized by overt Christian symbolism and some gorgeous shots of the countryside. Rossellini makes the viewer aware of the overpowering presence of the environment, itself another character. The scenes where Magnani is lying on the ground surrounded by animals are particularly ravishing and beautiful.