MovieChat Forums > The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (2003) Discussion > The Homeless Man - Rodrigo Santoro

The Homeless Man - Rodrigo Santoro

posted 19 years ago by andros12
24 replies | jump to latest

I was impressed by the ability of Rodrigo Santoro to be so expressive using only his face without a single word of dialogue during the entire film. His seemingly intense emotional exchanges with Mrs. Stone form an intriguing combination of a yearnful interest, empathy, intuition, and passion. He appears to understand the social forces involved along the road on which Mrs. Stone is taking her journey and he appears to openly express his contempt for Paolo who is most instrumental in guiding her destiny. One can't help but wonder whether he once travelled a similar route.

Of all the characters in the film he appears to be the most genuine over and above his crude expressions and his disadvantaged social position and poverty. After Mrs. Stone throws him the keys to her apartment the depth of emotion expressed on his face seemingly rivals some depictions of a profound religious experience. Entering her beautiful apartment there is an unearthly glow of lights surrounding him: yellow, blue and red. The blend of colourations form an echo reminiscent of a renaissance art work; the visitor's face half hidden in shadow, the eyes a profound reflection of love and understanding. Who is he? The viewer looks at the face searching, attempting to unravel the mystery.

[–] Osibi 18 years ago

Indeed and he is the only reason worth watching this atrocious remake of a renchnotoriously difficult Tenesse Williams play,evne the legendary Helen Mirren felt flat, or maybe she simply had no real chemistry with the wodden OM...sorry but he is way over rated.. he is a terribly pedestrian actor.. no depth ,empathy or intensity at all in his roles.. in Englsih ior in French... though a couple but only a couple of his early frecnh movies were not too bad.

Santora is by far the more appealing actor as is the other Frech actor Romain Duris who is sublime an actor and makes OM look very over estimated.

[–] andros12 18 years ago

It would be interesting to know the working synopsis that Mr. Santoro used in the creation of this character; knowing that he would be mute, ill mannered and dishevelled. He had to depend entirely on facial expressions and movement to create an impression on the cultured but misguided Mrs. Stone to the point where he was believable not just as a disadvantaged, vulgar person on the street but rather as a 'someone', perhaps someone extraordinary, to whom she handed the keys to her final destiny. When their eyes meet after he enters her apartment it appears that whatever the outcome of their fateful meeting, that at least for that brief moment, Karen Stone had reached a new level of 'authenticity' in her consciousness.

[–] Scryptzz 17 years ago

It's funny you feel so strongly about the difference in their acting ability, because the whole time I was watching the movie I thought that it was Olivier Martinez playing dual roles.

[–] nvk54 18 years ago

I just rented the DVD of Roman Spring of Mrs.Stone and was captivated with the character of the homeless man Rodrigo Santoro.My question is depending on how you view the film.That when the homeless man enters her home Does he sincerly care for her and will she find some kind of love or affection with him or will he become yet another paid escort?

N.Kingswell

[–] andros12 18 years ago

There's an interesting subliminal reference in the film using mirrors. During Paolo's conversation with the Contessa when she tells him his looks are fading, he looks in the mirror at multiple images of "himself" and says "...not just one season Contessa."

During the following "Points of View" sequence when the Homeless Man follows Karen into the side street, the camera angle on him goes out of focus forming a "ghostly" image as he follows her and watches as she attempts to telephone Paolo. Then as she steps in front of the shop mirror the Homeless Man's reflection appears behind her as an inordinately large image before becoming more focused as his usual size. Finally, he becomes a shadow in profile as she flees.

Some of these reflections reminded me of the Kim Novak shadowy images in "Vertigo."

My guess would be that this fellow isn't the usual man on the street.

[–] GoldCoin89 18 years ago

What do we think happened at the end, did he reape and murder her! or was it intended to signify that she will turn him in to another Paolo then find another and another?

[–] andros12 18 years ago

Helen Mirren talks about the film on the DVD Bonus Features. She says Karen Stone had lost her husband, her youth, and her career and as a result then goes through a door and doesn't know where she's going. She mentions that death might seem to be a relief from the brutal reality of life for Mrs. Stone.

I have no doubt the Paolo on the street character was a common sight after the war. This character is somewhat different however because of the previously mentioned camera work, lighting and symbolism that seems to surround most of his appearances giving him a kind of ghostly aura. (see review)

His fade out in the alley is duplicated when he finally meets her in her apartment wherein both he and Mrs. Stone fade out together as though both had suddenly taken on the ghostly aura.

I don't think he raped her as she of her own free will let him into her apartment and his eyes seemed to be filled with a great deal of loving emotion. However since the camera faded out on both of their faces it seems possible that he may have taken her, however that might be interpreted by the individual viewer.

[–] ziggiee-1 18 years ago

I am intrigued by this character and what he represents. I saw the movie for the first time last night and someone commented that the Homeless Man might be a discarded marchetta from before.

But I think there's more to it than that. I haven't read the book but does anyone here know if the character is explained?

[–] nawdukes 17 years ago

why did he keep trying to whip out his dick and pee in front of her? What woman finds that attractive? Don't give me no sophisticated literary bs either...

"I was always more interested in what bark was made out of on a tree."

[–] rafika 17 years ago

I believe this sad young man represents death. He follows her as she comes to the realization that her period in the sun has come to a conclusion, the people she has surrounded herself with are all part of a farce of life and not the real thing. She has retreated from the stage, refusing to return to life in New York and her career, and is on a downward spiral into her last moments. She has not paid the price of her "hosts" in Rome. Paolo foretells her demise with his tale of the woman on the French Riviera who is found with her throat slit from ear to ear. This young man obviously does not share the breeding, pride and arrogance of the aristocracy, who are living out their own post-war nightmarish existence and appears throughout the film to remind the star of the realities of the world and her need to face them. She finally succumbs to this realization and sees death as a release from the horrid dream she had fallen into, represented by the sham relationship that is shown in the home movie at the end.

-= ra =-

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Osibi 17 years ago

I saw the original with Warren Beatty.. much much better than this tbh.

Tenesse Williams.. given his turn of brain, I think the homeless guy was representative of the depth she has fallen to and probably kills her.....none of his plays/novels exactly have happy endings....

[–] metose 17 years ago

nawdukes, with that attitude why would a Tenessee Williams story interest you If you take away the "sophisticated literary bs" there is nothing more than the closing credits. Perhaps a movie with firearms and hurtling cars would be more suitable. Look up... metaphor, symbolism and allusion, then give some thought to the theme of this work. Perhaps then you will understand why the stranger whipped out his dick and pissed.

[–] lovemovies06 17 years ago

I believe the homeless man represents death as well. Follows Mrs. Stone about,etc. I had hoped that the homeless man would also "visit" Paolo, but no. I believe he is to kill Mrs. Stone at the end, and not become another gigolo.

[–] cornelia123 17 years ago

I believe the homeless man represents TOTAL FREEDOM, and yes, there is an element of fear when you emerge yourself to the unknown, to a life of total freedom outside the margins of society....as Mrs Stone does. Love, Passion, Death .....this is what she is risking by accepting the homeless man into her home, a life that is no longer mapped out for her. She doesn't want to know how her life will be, and this is why she accepts him into her life, and with him the 'unknown', and for Mrs Stone, anything is better than having her lonely life and eventual lonely death full of regrets mapped out for her, as symbolised by the ticking clock.

[–] marudd50 11 years ago

Your eloquence overwhelms me.

[–] BlueGreen 15 years ago

Reading the replies in this interesting thread, and thinking about the conspicuous beauty of Santoro's face and eyes - so conspicuous, in fact, that it MUST have been one of the main reasons why he was cast - it just occurred to me... maybe, just MAYBE, his character, the apparent dichotomy between beauty and physical neglect, is supposed to embody the idea that one should transcend the "covers" and find the beauty in the "book" itself.

Of course the very beauty of Santoro's face seems to contradict this - but the fact is, it is very difficult to convey such a message on film without using actual beauty. (Which is why often "physically-plain-but-beautiful-inside" characters were/are actually played by beautiful actors.)

I hope you know what I mean - the weather is very hot and I am less than articulate today. ;)

[–] coral-scala 14 years ago

And what a hot homeless man!!
The scene where his pubes are shown... Oh, God!!!

[–] juxtapose70 14 years ago

I am so relieved that I'm not the only one that was horny for the homeless man.

[–] ilykyu 12 years ago

lol at you ladies lusting after a homeless guy. In real life most women wouldn't converse with a guy even slightly below their station so bound by they by society.

[–] OceanPagan 12 years ago

Santoro was gorgeous as the guy the Laura Linney character loved from afar in Love Actually. I'll sit through any movie I have to just to look upon him. Me love him long time ;)

Darlin', don't ever take a Southern woman for granted!

[–] yvonne v v 13 years ago

In the movie she states that she wants to be caressed by someone who really loves her, no compromise. Paolo hushes her with smooth talk (picknick scene).
At the end, when she finally realizes that Paolo only wanted money, she chooses the homeless man. His dedication shows the obsessive admiration she desperate needs.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Bruce92106 (30) 2 years ago

Even all grimey and homeless I think Santoro is better looking than Martinez. I wonder if Mirren gave him a nice bubble bath before they got busy? LOL