Kaos (1984)

Five stories by Luigi Pirandello set in turn-of-the-century Italy.

Directors:

Paolo Taviani, Vittorio Taviani

Writers:

Luigi Pirandello (stories), Paolo Taviani,

Stars:

Margarita Lozano, Orazio Torrisi, Carlo Cartier

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Margarita Lozano	...	Mariagrazia (segment "L'altro figlio")
Orazio Torrisi	...	Comizzi (segment "L'altro figlio")
Carlo Cartier	...	Il giovane dottore (segment "L'altro figlio")
Biagio Barone	...	Salvatore (segment "Requiem")
Laura Mollica	...	La ragazza / Francesca (segments "L'altro figlio" and "Requiem")
Salvatore Rossi	...	Il patriarca (segments "L'altro figlio" and "Requiem")
Franco Scaldati	...	Don Sarso (segment "Requiem")
Pasquale Spadola	...	Il barone (segment "Requiem")
Claudio Bigagli	...	Batà (segment "Mal di luna")
Massimo Bonetti	...	Saro (segments "Mal di luna" and "Colloquio con la madre")
Enrica Maria Modugno	...	Sidora (segment "Mal di luna")
Anna Malvica	...	La madre (segment "Mal di luna")
Regina Bianchi	...	Madre di Pirandello (segment "Colloquio con la madre") (as Régina Bianchi)
Laura De Marchi	...	Nonna di Pirandello (segment "Colloquio con la madre")
Giovanna Taviani	...	Madre di Pirandello (segment "Colloquio con la madre")

Storyline

The film consists of four stories plus epilogue, set in 19th-century Sicily. THE OTHER SON - A mother spends her life waiting for news from her two sons (emigrated to America) while ignoring her third, because he is the reincarnation of the bandit who raped her. MOON SICKNESS - a newly-wed peasant girl discovers that her husband goes mad every full moon. She arranges for a male friend to protect her, but they end up in bed together just as the moon emerges from behind a cloud. THE JAR - a rich landowner hires a master craftsman to repair a giant olive jar, but the craftsman gets trapped inside. REQUIEM - villagers band together in an attempt to force their landlord to let them bury their dead. CONVERSATIONS WITH MOTHER - the writer Luigi Pirandello talks with his aged mother about a story he always wanted to write, but which he never managed to capture in words.

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Plot Keywords:

moon | sicily | five stories | olive | full moon | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

14 February 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chaos

Filming Locations:

Chiaramonte Gulfi, Sicily, Italy

Box Office

Gross:

$325,717 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmtre, Rai Uno Radiotelevisione, MK2 Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

188 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Batà: Madonna! Help me! I am dying! I am dying!

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Connections

Referenced in The Runestone (1991)

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Soundtracks

"Arietta 'L'ho perduta'"
from opera "Le nozze di Figaro"
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

User Reviews

Did Beethoven make films ?!?

Once Sicily was the center of our western world, and this film shows us all the beauties of far, far away, together with a Pastorale worthy of a Beethoven Symphony.

No No, Nicola Piovani composed the unforgettable music all by himself.

This film is timeless, with an imagery, thanks to master Giuseppe Lanci, that is as well sober as breathtakingly beautiful.

There is not one weak actor and the stories are from Luigi Pirandello, who aimed to make one gorgeous novella for each day of the year.

KAOS of the Taviani-brothers could, or maybe even should, be watched every day of the week. This must truly be the most beautiful cinematic achievement ever.