Europe '51 (1952)

A wealthy woman becomes obsessed with humanitarianism when her young son dies after committing suicide.

Director:

Roberto Rossellini

Writers:

Roberto Rossellini (story), Roberto Rossellini

Stars:

Ingrid Bergman, Alexander Knox, Ettore Giannini

4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ingrid Bergman	...	Irene Girard
Alexander Knox	...	George Girard
Ettore Giannini	...	Andrea Casatti
Giulietta Masina	...	Giulietta, detta Passerotto
Teresa Pellati	...	Ines
Marcella Rovena	...	Mrs. Puglisi
Tina Perna	...	Cesira
Sandro Franchina	...	Michele Girard
Maria Zanoli	...	Mrs. Galli
Silvana Veronese
William Tubbs	...	Professor Alessandrini
Alberto Plebani	...	Mr. Puglisi
Eleonora Barracco
Alfonso Di Stefano
Alfred Browne	...	Hospital Priest

Storyline

Irene Girard is an ambassador's wife and used to living in luxury. After the dramatic death of her son, she feels guilty of having neglected him and feels compelled to help people in need who cross her path. One day she offers shelter to a man who is evading justice, and she ends being arrested herself. Her husband, for the sake of social propriety, arranges for a doctor to declare her insane. Irene escapes one prison to enter another, and to reflect on what sort of society she lives in.

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Plot Keywords:

social conscience | year in title | 1950s | mother son estrangement | mother son relationship | 

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Taglines:

Would she lose her husband, her home? - Her answer will stun you!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

3 November 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Greatest Love

Filming Locations:

Ponti-De Laurentiis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ponti-De Laurentiis Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The square Irene and Andrea drive to is the Campodoglio in Rome. The equestrian statue is of Marcus Aurelius, emperor and stoic philosopher.

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Quotes

Irene Girard: You see how tragic it is. That a gesture or a word that can't be taken back, that could make something go wrong. I caused this death. Oh, I can't stand it anymore.
Andrea Casatti: No, no Irene. It's useless to say that. What's the good of repeating if I had said this, if I had done that? Things are as they are.
Irene Girard: Well, then it was destiny. But, why this destiny?
Andrea Casatti: Now, wait. I said nothing about destiny. What has destined to do with this?
Irene Girard: Then, if it wasn't destiny, the fault was mine.
Andrea Casatti: No, Irene. The fault is not ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

Ingrid Bergman, Alexander Knox and the other English-speaking actors dub their own voices into English for the English version.

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Connections

References Toto the Third Man (1951)

User Reviews

Quite heavy stuff, for early '50's standards.

Dramas have always been around, ever since the earliest days of film and throughout the decades they have kept on changing and evolving, basically just like every other movie genre. This movie however seems unlike any other movie from around the same time period really. It's more bold and daring with its themes and therefore also truly original to watch as well.

The movie truly surprised me with some of its themes and events. Some of these elements might still be considered to be shocking and controversial in movies now days.

And its strange but it's often strangely compelling to watch the downfall and disintegration of another human being, or in this case, a character on film. And this movie pretty much chronicles the slowly deteriorating live of a married upper-class woman. Just when you think things can't get any worse for her, it does get worse but without ever getting melodramatic by the way, which is, I believe, the movie its biggest accomplishment.

It's a more realistic and humane told movie, that gets you truly involved with all of its events and drama. It simply is one fine and also effective Italian drama, in that regard, by director Roberto Rossellini.

Like often, Rossellini casted his then wife Ingrid Bergman, for the lead role. She was a good female lead, for movies of this sort. She could be strong and confident but yet also at the same time still with a very vulnerable and emotional undertone to it. Just as was required for her role in this movie, which was the second collaboration between her and Rossellini.

A must-see for the Roberto Rossellini fans and for the lovers of the more old fashioned and very straightforward kind of dramas.

8/10

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