"L'Innocente" *** (out of ****)
"L'Innocente (The Innocent)" marked Luchino Visconti's final film. By the time "L'Innocent" was released in 1976, the great Visconti was already in ill health. Sadly it shows as the film seems to direct itself. Visconti's hand doesn't seem to be present. This is a shame. Since this would be Visconti's last film it would have been nice if his health wouldn't have interrupted the potential of this film. However, it is still a powerful piece of work which should be seen by as many people as possible.
When we think of some of the great Italian filmmakers, names like Fellini, Antonioni, Bertolucci and Rossellini come to mind. But the name Luchino Visconti usually gets lost in the shuffle. He is just as important to cinema as any of the other names mentioned.
Visconti is credited with making what is generally reguarded as the first neo-realism film, "Ossessione" released before "Rome, Open City".
His name is not often mentioned with the neo-realism movement. Besides "Ossessione" the only other film made in that tradition was "La Terra Trema". Visconti normally made lush operatic films revolving around aristocrats, think of "The Leopard" and "Ludwig". After briefly departing from this style later in his career for more erotic films, "Sandra of A Thousand Delights", "The Damned" and "Conversation Piece" none of those films, except for "The Damned" were exceptional.
In "L'Innocente" Visconti finds the correct balance between these two styles of lush melodrama and erotic art. The story raises to the level of a grand opera, (Mr. Visconti was a great fan of opera and a friend of the renowned singer Maria Callas). The film in some ways is a fitting swan song. It is a story about love, death, lust, religious morality and living in a Godless world.
Based on a novel by Gabriele D'Annunzio and adapted by Visconti and Enrico Medioli and Suso Cecchi d' Amico, both of whom had previously worked with Visconti before. Medioli on "Rocco and His Brothers" and "Ludwig", d'Amico on "Conversation Piece" and though it is not a Visconti film, wrote the classic Italian comedy, "Big Deal on Madonna Street". The story involves a wealthy couple; Tullio Hermil (Giancarlo Giannini, who can be seen in the latest James Bond film, "Quantum of Solace") and his wife Giuliana (Laura Antonelli). Tullio has been having an affair, one of many, but this time it is serious. He is actually willing to leave his wife and the lifestyle he has become accustom to. The woman is Teresa Raffo (Jennifer O' Neill, of "Summer of '42" fame). Tullio doesn't hide his feelings from his wife. He is extremely open and direct with her telling her for the first time in his life he is obsessed. He says all Teresa need to do is demand and he is all too willing to obey.
After Tullio leaves his wife. Giuliana ends up starting an affair with a writer, Filippo d' Arborio (Marc Porel). But when things between Tullio and Teresa don't work out and Tullio returns home he is overcome with jealousy when he finds out what Giuliana has been up to. It is later discovered she is going to have a baby and despite Tullio's suggestion of abortion, she plans on keeping it. This drives Tullio to become filled with hate as the child will forever remain a constant reminder of Giuliana's actions. The baby becomes the "innocent" suggested in the title.
The emotions do reach highs and lows in the film but it never becomes a campy melodrama. The stakes keep rising with each new discovery but because the story and the performances are so strong will keep with the movie. We are involved. How will such a story end? What devilish secrets lurk in Tullio's heart and mind?
This makes "L'Innocente" sound like a brainteaser. It is not.
I've seen this film many times now. The first couple of times I watched it I came away feeling Visconti's directing was not strong. I thought the film felt too staged. In fact it probably would have made a very compelling stage play instead of a film. But I always came back to the film and try to relive the delights of the story. Besides the story the film has one of the most beautiful, haunting and heartbreaking theme songs I have ever heard. The music was done by Franco Mannino. He has not scored any other film I have ever seen but if this is just a sample of his work and what he was capable of, he was a very gifted composer.
The performance given by Giannini is the scene stealer for me. The women in the film are effective but I find Tullio to be the most interesting character. It is really his story we are watching. Giannini was fairly unknown back than, though he did appear in the original "Swept Away" at the same time. Visconti slowly shows us Tullio's slip into madness. One scene involves Tullio meeting Filippo at a fencing club, Tullio is a great fencer. They agree to a match. At this point in the story Tullio knows all about Filippo though we are not sure if Filippo is aware Tullio knows.
After their match Tullio sits in the shower, fully dressed staring coldly at Filippo, who is showering. Filippo feels eyes gazing upon him. At that moment we figure he knows his secret is out. He reacts by walking towards Tullio, fully naked, to get a towel, for the sole purpose that Tullio can see his manhood and what gave his wife pleasure. These are the kind of mind games going on in the film.
The Giuliana character is religious and carries a great weight on her shoulders due to her affair. It goes against her beliefs. When she does tell Tullio we are engaged in more mind games. Has she really repented? Does she still love Filippo? Tullio tries to pursuade her with sex by lusting after her again but is it working? I never thought much about these questions before. But seeing the film again I became intrigued trying to figure out what are these characters after.
Some readers may wonder about my star rating. Why am I including this film in my "Masterpiece Film Series" and I'm giving it only 3 stars. I stand by ever word I have written. "L'Innocent" is a great film. It is worth seeing. And is a return to form by the great Visconti. It is not a 4 star film but that does not mean the film should not be celebrated. Some entries in this series may not always be 4 stars but they are all exceptional films which deserve more attention. "L'Innocent", while not Visconti's best film, is one of the masterpieces of cinema.
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