I found this Italian neorealist film in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, I assumed it was going to be foreign language and subtitles, I'm relieved it was in English, I only remember it because of the leading actress, but I was hoping for something worthwhile, directed by Roberto Rossellini (Rome, Open City; Paisan, Journey to Italy). Basically Irene Girard (Ingrid Bergman) is an American society woman, she lives in post-war Rome with her husband, industrialist and ambassador George (Alexander Knox), and their son Michele (Sandro Franchina). They host so many parties that their son feels neglected, during a dinner party he constantly tries to get his mother's attention, but she is more interested in socialising with her guests and being a good host than an attentive mother. As a result, Michele attempts to commit suicide by falling several stories down a stairwell, fracturing his hip. At the hospital, Irene promises never to leave Michele and to be more attentive, but he dies soon after from a blood clot. Irene suffers severe depression and is bedridden for ten days, and after coming out she enlists the help of her cousin Andrea Casatti (Ettore Giannini) to help her overcome her grief. Andrea is a publisher and a Communist, she suggests to Irene she needs to see "the other Rome," and takes her to the poorer parts of the city. Andrea mentions a poor family whose son needs expensive medicine, Irene immediately decides to help, donating her money to help the child. Irene is struck by the dreadful living conditions in the slums. She meets Passerotto (Giulietta Masina), a penniless woman living in a shack by a river, she helps her care for her many ragged children. Irene also secures Passerotto a job in a factory job, and even fills in for her on the first day. But Irene is horrified by the working conditions at the factory, which she sees as slavery. Irene then cares for a prostitute who is dying of tuberculosis. A priest (Alfred Browne) befriends Irene at the hospital, but she backs away and does not reciprocate his belief in God. Irene has a long conversation with him about the "true mercies" of God while the poor suffer needlessly, and no one does anything about it. Irene spends less and less time at home as a result of helping these people, George and Irene's mother become concerned about her unexplained absences. George accuses Irene of having an affair with Andrea, which causes her to leave him. Irene is eventually picked up by police, she had told a boy to hand himself in after he had committed a theft, but she is arrested for helping him evade arrest. George overreacts to these events, Irene is shocked, but decides not to try an argue with him, he and the authorities decide that she needs to be put in a mental institution. Irene is finally brought before the review board on whether she will stay permanently in the hospital. It is decided that her philosophy of helping people and mental state is dangerous for the fragile post-war society, therefore she will be locked up permanently. The people she helped, and others she didn't, stand outside her cell window, praying to her as their new "patron saint." The final moment sees of Irene's face looking down at these people through the bars with a hint of a smile. Also starring Giulietta Masina as Passerotto and Teresa Pellati as Ines. Bergman gives an interesting performance as the superficial woman who may or may not going mad following a tragic loss, Knox is alright as her concerned husband, it is a simple story of a woman trying to find salvation by helping those less fortunate, so there are a good few melodramatic things going on, I admit it was slow and uneven at times, but an interesting enough drama. Worth watching!
Review of Europe '51
