The Mystery of Oberwald (1981) Il mistero di Oberwald (original title)

Director:

Michelangelo Antonioni

Writers:

Jean Cocteau (play)
Michelangelo Antonioni (adaptation) ...
(more)

Release Date:

3 September 1981 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

"If you don't kill me, I'll kill you." [Video Australia]

Plot:

A hunted man breaks into the castle at Oberwald to kill the Queen, but faints before doing so. He is Sebastian...

Plot Keywords:

Queen | Castle | Widow | Double Suicide | Experimental Film

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Monica Vitti	...	The Queen
Paolo Bonacelli	...	Count of Foehn
Franco Branciaroli	...	Sebastian
Luigi Diberti	...	Willenstein
Elisabetta Pozzi	...	Edith de Berg
Amad Saha Alan	...	Tony
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carla Buzzanca	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Michelangelo Antonioni

Writing credits
Jean Cocteau		(play "L'Aigle a Deux Têtes")
Michelangelo Antonioni		(adaptation) &
Tonino Guerra		(adaptation)

Produced by
Alessandro von Norman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Guido Turchi

Cinematography by
Luciano Tovoli

Film Editing by
Michelangelo Antonioni
Francesco Grandoni

Production Design by
Mischa Scandella

Set Decoration by
Stefania Conti

Costume Design by
Vittoria Guaita

Makeup Department
Angelo Aprile	....	hair stylist
Natalino Candido	....	assistant hair stylist
Grazia De Rossi	....	hair stylist
Roberto del Brocco	....	makeup artist (as Roberto Del Brocco)
Miranda Liviero	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Giancarlo Bernardoni	....	production manager
Bruno Cavagna	....	production manager
Vittorio Petri	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Wanda Lazzarino	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gianni Comite	....	props
Saverio Mainieri	....	assistant set decorator
Atos Mastrogirolamo	....	assistant production designer (as Athos Mastrogirolamo)
Damiano Mastrorocco	....	propman
Angelo Santucci	....	assistant production designer
Silvano Spaccesi	....	graphic designer
Bruno Vandilli	....	props

Sound Department
Fausto Ancillai	....	sound mixer
Fernando Caso	....	sound effects editor
Gianfranco Desideri	....	sound technician
Alvaro Gramigna	....	foley artist
Fiorenza Muller	....	sound editor (as Fiorenza Müller)
Mario Nessina	....	boom operator
Alessandro Peticca	....	sound editor (as Sandro Peticca)

Special Effects by
Armando Grilli	....	special effects
Vito Rossi	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Gianni Donaldi	....	camera operator
Annibale Menin	....	camera operator
Mario Moreschini	....	key grip
Claudio Mornata	....	camera control
Giuseppe Muraro	....	camera operator
Giordano Orsini Rolando	....	chief lighting technician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Matteo Arpone	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Franco De Leonardis	....	color consultant
Gino Di Lorenzi	....	assistant editor
Claudio Gandini	....	video to film transfer
Antonio Giglio Fiorito	....	video mixer

Other crew
Tarcisio Cattaneo	....	stage assistant
Carlo Torelli	....	technical coordinator

Production Companies

• Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI)
• Polytel International Film (associate production)

Distributors

• Cidif (1981) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Facets Multimedia Distribution
• Palace Academy Home Video (1984) (Australia) (video)
• Rai Due (1981) (Italy) (TV)

Other Companies

• Cine Audio Effects  sound effects and foley design
• Image Transform  video to film transfer
• Scenografia Oggi  production design

Also Known As:

"Il mistero di Oberwald" - Italy (original title)

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

Italy | West Germany

Language:

Italian | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Italy:T | Singapore:PG | UK:A | Argentina:13

Company:

Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI)

Trivia:

One of the first major international feature films to be shot on video, a controversial decision at the time of its release.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Killer (1989)

A Nutshell Review: The Mystery of Oberwald

The Mystery of Oberwald is a made of television movie, done in video before being transferred to 35mm. As introduced by Lorenzo Codelli, this movie reunites actress Monica Vitti and director Michelangelo Antonioni since their last collaboration in Red Desert, some 17 years earlier. During this while, Vitti became a fairly successful comedic actress, while Antonioni was like a globetrotter having films made in the UK (Blowup), US (Zabriskie Point) and having a documentary done in China about China on the invitation of the Chinese government of the time. The movie was shot for state broadcast television, which was appealing to filmmakers at that time because it was increasingly difficult to raise funds for theatrical feature films.

And if Antonioni wanted to make a film to dabble with video technology, then perhaps he had achieved that goal. Technically it had employed many tricks of the trade through its cinematography and editing, but what strikes you most is the use of colours in the movie to accentuate mood of its characters, through various changes and transitions, with contrasting hues and tints used which dissolves every now and then. When used at the great outdoors, the generous shots of nature were given a life of its own, and in those terms, makes it a very beautiful film to gawk at.

If only the story could match up to its technical strengths. Based on the play "L'Aigle a Deux Tetes" by Jean Cocteau, it's no wonder that the movie played out exactly like a stage play. To make things worse, the dialogue was excruciatingly painful to sit through, perhaps being a period piece, we have to make do with characters speaking in more elaborate terms and beating around the bush. It could be another case of having its nuances lost in translation, but if that's the case, then the subtitles really did the story no favour. The situations the story unfolded were rather unconvincing, and quite dry. Unfortunately too that Monica Vitti wasn't able to arrest you with the special x-factor that she possessed in the earlier Antonioni movies, and looked rather tired in her role as The Queen, who has rather queer habits.

The story picked up early when a pursued Sebastian (Franco Branciaroli) ended up breaking into the castle at Oberwald to perform an assassination of the Queen, only to have fainted before carrying out his mission. The only saving grace for him, is his resemblance to the late King, and herein lies his ticket to get out with the Queen still nursing a longing, and takes a natural liking for Sebastian. In between an unlikely, unrealistic and unconvincing romance is thick politicking between the Queen and her enemies, chiefly the Archduchess whom we never see on screen. There's much talk about fate and destiny and the likes, but that's only when you can tolerate and get through Act One which happens to be mostly a monologue where the Queen rants to an unconscious Sebastian.

Certainly The Mystery of Oberwald in my opinion is not one of Antonioni's best, nor does it come close to being something quite memorable. This movie currently ranks as my least favourite of all the Antonioni movies watched to date, and elevates my other Antonioni disappointments as masterpieces to be celebrated.