The Mill on the Po

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The Mill on the Po
The Mill on the Po.jpg
Directed by Alberto Lattuada
Written by Federico Fellini
Tullio Pinelli
Mario Bonfantini
Luigi Comencini
Alberto Lattuada
Carlo Musso
Sergio Romano
Based onThe Mill on the Po by Riccardo Bacchelli
Produced by Carlo Ponti
Starring Carla Del Poggio
Jacques Sernas
Mario Besesti
Cinematography Aldo Tonti
Edited by Mario Bonotti
Music by Ildebrando Pizzetti
Production
company
Distributed byLux Film
Release date
  • 1 September 1949 (1949-09-01)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryItaly
Language Italian

The Mill on the Po (Italian: Il mulino del Po) is a 1949 Italian historical drama film directed by Alberto Lattuada and starring Carla Del Poggio, Jacques Sernas and Mario Besesti. [1] [2] It is based on the third part of the novel of the same name by Riccardo Bacchelli. [3] [4] It premiered at the 1949 Venice Film Festival. The films was produced and distributed by Lux Film, one of Italy's leading companies of the postwar years. Extensive location shooting took place around Lombardy including at Bagnolo San Vito, Porto Mantovano and Curtatone. The films sets were designed by the art director Luigi Gervasi.

Contents

Synopsis

In nineteenth century Lombardy the Scacerni family own their own floating mill on the River Po, using the watermill to grind crops harvested in the area. Berta Scacerni is engaged to Orbino Verginesi from a family of rural labourers. However, following the Unification of Italy they are now under the control of Piedmontese authorities who rigorously enforce new taxes on the mills of the river. During a raid, to avoid being caught cheating the authorities, Berta's hot-headed brother Princivalle sets fire to mill causing damage. He serves a time in prison and, while the mill is repaired, Berta goes to work for Orbino's family on the land.

Her relationship with Orbino becomes complicated by the ongoing battle between the landowners, led by the domineering Clapassòn who wishes to modernise his holdings, and the socialist movement organising the labourers and tenant farmers to demand better terms. The labour leader Raibolini calls a strike and the country people cease work. As the Scacerni refuse to stop milling the wheat, they are ostracised by their neighbours and Berta receives the hostility of her fiancée's family. Raibolini pressures him to break off his engagement with her but he refuses and considers emigrating to America.

The Italian Army arrive to complete the harvest and a confrontation begins with the local woman. Many are arrested for assaulting the troops, before a deal is brokered to end the strike. However in the heated atmosphere malicious gossip reaches Princivalle, recently released from prison, that Orbino has made love to his sister Berta multiple times and tiring of his fiancée, now wishes to abandon her. During a confrontation between the two Princivalle knocks down Orbino, killing him.

Cast

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References

  1. ↑ Moliterno, Gino. Historical Dictionary of Italian Cinema. Scarecrow Press, 2008. p.170
  2. ↑ Bayman, Louis. The Operatic and the Everyday in Postwar Italian Film Melodrama. Edinburgh University Press, 2014. p.192-93
  3. ↑ Cosulich, Callisto (1985). ": Il mulino del Po". I Film di Alberto Lattuada. Gremese Editore, 1985. ISBN   8876051872.
  4. ↑ Chiti, Roberto; Poppi, Roberto; Lancia, Enrico. ": Il mulino del Po". Dizionario del cinema italiano: I film. Gremese, 1991. ISBN   8876055487.
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