MovieChat Forums > Il Decameron (1971) Discussion > Give him credit for a 'history' film

Give him credit for a 'history' film

posted 19 years ago by SurrenderToto
9 replies | jump to latest

Did the amateur performances bother any one else? And all those close-ups on unexpressive faces. O.K., we were looking at ordinary people--with a lot of bad teeth (it is the Middle Ages).

Well, I always appreciate a film that takes you to another time and era, so I was happy to look at the costumes, the city, the gardens--the general feel of the era (though the threat of death, which was great in this era, could have been more brought out). It was a mostly happy movie, dealing mostly with sexual peccadillos. Crudely done, but I got the points. Give the man credit for doing what others do not.

The story that was most poignant and meaningful to me was the one about the sister whose brothers kill her lover. At least that one had some complexity and depth, dealing as it did with the limitations put on women, class differences, and a sensuous and deep-felt love. The actress who played the sister was quite lovely, and for once some real drama was involved.

The fresco painting in the church was also intriguing--particularly because Pasonlini played the master painter himself.

Even with its lackings (my rating - 6/10), I do recommend it.

[–] INeverLikedYou 19 years ago

I just have to say that I also find the story "about the sister whose brothers kill her lover" quite beautiful and poignant (i think this is exactly the word i would choose to describe it). Sad as well... in the middle of these amusing stories these was the one that really stuck with me.

Also... i think the fact that the actors were amateurs gave the whole movie a completely different feeling of roughness, typical, i guess, of the era they were portraying.

And I love the way sex is just a funny, common thing. Everyone does it, right? (well... at least in this movie they do)

[–] SurrenderToto 19 years ago

INever - Yes, the faces gave it a tableau feel--ordinary peasant folks, merchants and aristocrats. If an actor is too well known or has a style that makes him/her stand out (stars definitely not wanted here), then it tends to take away from the sequential story nature of the film. But expressive and realistic acting is always welcome. First-timers or amateurs can be directed to good performances. I think the effort wasn't taken here.

Do you know any other films like this? Maybe depictions of The Canturbury Tales?

[–] INeverLikedYou 19 years ago

well... i still think that their performances gave the film a different feeling that real actors couldn't give. they are so basic and uncomplicated, that you just have to smile at the strangest and most tricky situations that they get themselves into. i dunno... just my opinion.

i don't actually know any other movies like this... i mean, The Canterbury Tales is quite similar (funnier i think)... but aside from pasolini i haven't seen movies like this. he's quite unique.

but maybe you like fellini, uh? i mean, he also has that special italian style. less "amateur-looking", but still... :)

[–] SurrenderToto 19 years ago

Yes, indeed, Fellini. One of the best. His masterful feel for working with actors and amateurs contributed to that.

So, you recommend Pasolini's "The Canterbury Tales"?

[–] INeverLikedYou 19 years ago

hmm... actually i think i prefered the canterbury tales.... the stories make more sense together in some way... it's less random. and it really has hilarious scenes. you should watch it, really... if you enjoyed the decameron i think you'll like this one. and then tell me what you think.

tomorrow, or the day after, i'm going to watch il fiore delle mille e una notte... i don't know the name in english (arabian nights or something like that, i believe). hope it's a nice movie, to complete the trilogy.

[–] Devans00 18 years ago

I liked the way the costumes tied the whole movie together. I don't know if noblewomen wore those funky felt dresses or the men wore those biking shorts looking underwear. The fact that characters in every story wore similar clothes pulled everything together.

Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.

[–] Carlooto-1 16 years ago

'Tha fact that characters in every story wore similar clothes pulled everything together.'

I should hope so, it all takes place in or around the same city and roundabout the same time.

And no, no one wore anything even close to those costumes--it's Danilo Donati's wonderful artistic license.

[–] D_vd_B 15 years ago

Only the hair was a little too much 70's style to be medieval. But it didn't really bother me.

The teen girl (the sex scene on the balcony or on the roof, whatever it was) showed some clear tan lines where she could wear a bra. But besides that, I think most of it was believable.

And what about the teeth? Did they really pick actors with bad teeth, did they use makeup or was it just coincidental(no pun intended)?

[–] mevmijaumau 9 years ago

Personally I disliked it (I guess Pasolini's style just does nothing for me). While the locations and costumes are pretty good, the amateurish acting is very hit and miss; sometimes it's okay but other times it's annoying, not to mention the post-dub which usually doesn't bother me in Italian films but it's really obvious and ugly here.

Most of the stories were handled in a boring, forgettable fashion and it fails as an adaptation of Boccaccio's work because it never made me involved with the short tales. I'm also dissapointed that the 10 principal characters from Boccaccio's The Decameron weren't in the film.