Uccellacci e uccellini (1966)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Pier Paolo Pasolini

Writers:

Pier Paolo Pasolini (screenplay)
Pier Paolo Pasolini (story)

Release Date:

4 May 1966 (Italy)

Genre:

Comedy | History

Tagline:

An off-beat comedy about serious matters by PIER PAOLO PASOLINI.

Plot:

On an empty road, an old man is walking with his son. They meet a crow that can speak. They are changed...

Plot Keywords:

Italy | Surrealism | Talking Animal | Marxism | Absurd Humor

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Totò	...	Innocenti Totò / Brother Cicillo
Ninetto Davoli	...	Innocenti Ninetto / Brother Ninetto (as Davoli Ninetto)
Femi Benussi	...	Luna
Umberto Bevilacqua	...	Incensurato
Renato Capogna	...	The medieval rude fellow
Alfredo Leggi
Renato Montalbano
Flaminia Siciliano
Giovanni Tarallo
Vittorio Vittori	...	Ciro Lococo

Also Known As:

Hawks and Sparrows
The Hawks and the Sparrows (USA)

Runtime:

89 min | USA:91 min | Spain:84 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM14 | Spain:T | Spain:(Banned) (1966-1979) | Finland:S | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Assisi, Perugia, Umbria, Italy

Company:

Arco Film

Trivia:

On February, 14th, 1988 Laura Betti introduced a reconstructed version of the film (99 min) at the 'Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin'. This version contains a short episode with Totò called "Toto al circo", which was not included in the original release. Although director Pier Paolo Pasolini reported about his work on it, this episode had never been shown to the public before.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in I vesuviani (1997)

You've never seen anything like this!

How does one describe a film like this? Imagine a Bunuel film like THE MILKY WAY. A couple of men walking on an empty road. They're on a strange journey only their destination is the beginning of their journey (huh?) and the two men are as funny as the best cinema clowns in screen history. Somewhat Felliniesque, somewhat Chaplinesque, throw in a little De Sica and even a dash of Monty Python and you can begin to have some idea of what this incredible blend of absurd and hilarious satire is like. Unlike Bunuel's films, this film is joyous. It has heart, passion, and an imagination springing somewhere from the soul. The film takes its stabs at religion, academics, and government but it does it in a playful way that leaves one feeling rejuevenated instead of that sour feeling that one feels after watching most social satires. It's hard to believe that this is a Pasolini film. It's about as far on the spectrum from SALO that one can get, yet it's sad that in comparison this film is almost completely unknown.

This is definitley worth seeking out on video. I'm hoping that I can find a soundtrack recording for this. It is one of the best Ennio Morricone scores I've heard, which is saying a great deal!