Teorema (1968)

Director:

Pier Paolo Pasolini

Writers:

Pier Paolo Pasolini (novel)
Pier Paolo Pasolini (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 September 1968 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

There are only 923 words spoken in "Teorema" - but it says everything!

Plot:

A strange visitor in a wealthy family. He seduces the maid, the son, the mother, the daughter and finally the father before leaving a few days after...

Plot Keywords:

Visitor | Maid | Homosexual | Industrialist | Stranger

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Silvana Mangano	...	Lucia, the mother
Terence Stamp	...	The Visitor
Massimo Girotti	...	Paolo, the father
Anne Wiazemsky	...	Odetta, the daughter
Laura Betti	...	Emilia, the servant
Andrés José Cruz Soublette	...	Pietro, the son
Ninetto Davoli	...	Angelino - the Messenger
Carlo De Mejo	...	Boy
Adele Cambria	...	Emilia - the second servant
Luigi Barbini	...	Boy at the station
Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia	...	Second boy (as Ivan Scratuglia)
Alfonso Gatto	...	Doctor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cesare Garboli	...	Interwiever (uncredited)
Susanna Pasolini	...	Old Peasant (uncredited)

Directed by
Pier Paolo Pasolini

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Pier Paolo Pasolini		novel
Pier Paolo Pasolini		screenplay

Produced by
Manolo Bolognini	....	producer
Franco Rossellini	....	producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone
Ted Curson		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Giuseppe Ruzzolini

Film Editing by
Nino Baragli

Production Design by
Luciano Puccini

Costume Design by
Roberto Capucci
Marcella De Marchis

Makeup Department
Maria Teresa Corridoni	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Paolo Frascá	....	production manager

Art Department
Dario Fronzetti	....	set designer

Sound Department
Bernardino Fronzetti	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Otello Spila	....	camera operator

Music Department
Bruno Nicolai	....	musical director

Other crew
Pino Colizzi	....	voice dubbing: Terence Stamp (uncredited)
Rodolfo Traversa	....	voice dubbing: Andrés José Cruz Soublette (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Aetos Produzioni Cinematografiche
• Euro International Film (EIA)

Distributors

• Euro International Film (EIA) (1968) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Medusa Home Entertainment (2009) (Italy) (DVD)
• Continental Distributing (1969) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Magna-Filmi (1971) (Finland) (theatrical)
• BFI Video (2007) (UK) (DVD)
• C-Sales (1994) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Connoisseur Video Collection (1996) (USA) (VHS) (subtitled)
• Films sans Frontières (????) (France) (DVD)
• Kinokuniya (2004) (Japan) (DVD)
• Koch Lorber Films (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Versátil (????) (Brazil) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

105 min | Finland:99 min (cinema release) (1971) | West Germany:97 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:(Banned) (original rating) | Italy:VM18 (re-rated) | Spain:18 | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1994) | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:16 (bw) | Brazil:18

Filming Locations:

16 Via Palatino, Milan, Lombardia, Italy

Company:

Aetos Produzioni Cinematografiche

Trivia:

Second part of Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Mythical Cycle" also including Oedipus Rex (1967), Pigpen (1969) and Medea (1969).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Multiple Maniacs (1970)

Soundtrack:

Requiem

"A theorem is a proposition that has been or is to be proved on the basis of explicit assumptions...

..Proving theorems is a central activity of mathematicians. Note that "theorem" is distinct from "theory". (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Teorema" (1968) is a fable that tells how a handsome young man (extremely attractive Terrence Stamp "with the eyes of an angel and the grin of the devil") stays as a guest in the house of a wealthy factory owner and seduces one after another all members of the household - the maid, the teenagers son and daughter, the wife, and the father (in this order). When released in 1968, the film had divided believers and atheists as much as critics. Some of Pasolini's comrades-Marxists were also infuriated by this attack on their ideology. Many viewers were disturbed by its removing sexual taboos even though sex is handled very tastefully. It is more a symbol of connection and closeness to God (or it could be to Devil, we may only guess). Made almost forty years ago, "Teorema" seems to be simple and puzzling at the same time. It reminded me Ingmar Bergman's movies from his "Trilogy of Faith" which sums up Bergman's own philosophy regarding religion and God – "God has never spoken because He does not exist". In Bergman's world where God does not exist, communication and understanding are not possible and everyone is locked in their loneliness like in a cage. In Pasolini's film, God sends his angel to a chosen family. He has spoken to them and known them but then he left them. Did they become happier? Is that possible for a human to keep on living like nothing happen after the encounter with God?

I watched "Teorema" for the first time few weeks ago but I still think about it trying to understand what "theorem" Pasolini tried to prove? I also was thinking about the films that were inspired by or reminded me a lot about "Teorema". I've mentioned Bergman already. Luis Bunuel with "Nazarin", "Viridiana"," Belle de jour" (1967) - the mother's transformation in "Teorema" reminds about the film immediately, and "Le Charme discret de la bourgeoisie"(1972) come to mind. I was also reminded of Andrei Tarkovsky. The visual style, camera work and the use of music in "Teorema" seem similar with Russian Master's. His last film, "Sacrifice" may be the one closest to Pasolini's film.

I would never say that everyone must watch "Teorema". It is a very unusual film that could be easily dismissed as ridiculous and dated or it would be thought of as absolutely brilliant and mysterious. I have not decided yet but I can't forget it.

P.S. November 29, 2006 - It's been several months since I saw "Teorema" and now I believe that it is brilliant and belongs to the the best films ever made. One can meditate forever on its depths and mystery, and that's the sign of a great work of Art for me.