Ossessione details
| Format: | PG DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Clara Calamai, Juan De Landa, Massimo Girotti, Vittorio Duse, Dhia Cristiani |
| Director: | Luchino Visconti |
| Genres: | Drama - General, World Cinema - Italian |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
Ossessione |
PG Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 2 hours 20 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 05 Jul 2010 |
| Main languages: | Italian |
| Subtitles: | English |
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Most helpful review
sex, money, murder, guilt
By Zamy (552 reviews) from London , 27 Apr 2005[Highly rated reviewer]
Hope that doesn't give too much away. The main interest of this film is the fascinating use of actual locations which has made Visconti the father of Italian neorealism. This feels like a real Italy of the 1940's. But oddly given this is the time of fasicsm and the war there is no sign of this context in the film. Basically we are in a story of sexual obsession, the fourth version of J M Caine's 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' that I am aware of. But the passion is a bit muted (none of the steamy scenes we got from Jack Nicolson and Jessica Lang). Instead Visconti paints his protaganists as tortured lovers from the start. He also introduces two new characters in the Spaniard and the dancing girl (who is effectively a prostitute). The first is a free-living wanderer and Visconti seems to be contrasting this type of friendship, which has possible homo-erotic overtones, as an alternative to the star crossed lovers. Similarly, the dancer represents the alternative of easy sex to the sad couplings of our obsessed pair. This definitely works for me and I much preferred these two character subplots to the rather unsympathetic leads. The quality of the print is a bit grainy, but not enough to spoil the enjoyment of this fascinating movie.- Was this review helpful to you?
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All reviews
(14)Superb realistic Italian melodrama
By a customer , 02 Aug 2011Ossessione is considered to be one of the first Italian neorealist films but it is also one of the best. With its excellent high contrast black and white cinematography and foreboding atmosphere it also has some of the characteristics of American ‘film noir’. This is hardly surprising considering that the film is based on James M Cain’s classic crime novel ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice’.
The central characters, Giovanna, the restaurant owner’s wife and Gino, the wandering young tramp are superbly played by Clara Calamai and Massimo Girotti. The class difference between these two contributes to the failure of their passionate affair.
Although some viewers may find this film a little slow at times the pauses in the action enable one to really take in the harsh reality of Italian rural life in the 1940s. Ossessione is a powerful, groundbreaking film that deserves to be better known.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Ouch.
By SteveMason (58 reviews) from Nottingham , 20 Nov 2009This dirty, unblinking, baleful, passionate neo-realist classic still packs an almighty wallop. In my view, the definitive version of this often filmed story. By a distance.
The characters are stripped down to the basics here. Sexuality and greed. Their lives ever restricted by this poverty in themselves and the poverty that surrounds them.
Beautifully photographed as well. One of the greatest in a movement that produced so many excellent films.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Too confusing to get 5 stars
By a customer from the Slough of despond , 12 Aug 2009Perhaps I'm getting too old for the cleverish bits of mature French cinema.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Full of brooding passion
By a customer from Bordon , 01 Apr 2009Obsession, indeed. What I found most exciting and interesting was how Visconti has taken the basic plot of 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' and given it a distinctively Italian spin, with much greater emphasis on the social context of the impassioned lovers. Visconti even hints at a way out of the myopic obsession with the beloved, by introducing the character of 'The Spaniard', who represents a positive view of a world of friendship and social solidarity, in contrast to the negative trap of individual self-gratification represented by the lovers.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Italian classic
By a customer from London , 03 Jan 2009Classic dark b&w film with strong acting all the way. Use of b&w gives the film great atmosphere. Highly recommended.- Was this review helpful to you?
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