Review of Rocco and His Brothers (1960) by Carl C — 21 Jul 2009

In the midst of the Italian Neo Realist movement, Fellini gets the most recognition whilst Di Sica is overly lauded all the while an ussung master called Visconti is barely considered in todays industry.

Why as he creates the finest film of the movement in this heart-wrenching gripping tale set in the stark vicinity of post-war Milan. The gripping episodic structure of the piece gives it a wonderfully layered texture, drawing on each individual character with a fine tooth comb, the sense of strife is overly apparent and the brooding hostility is gripping at times.

Personified with some startling performances particularly the always dashing Delon. But Visconti's direction is the true winner adapting a powerhouse of a script and capturing the true sense of a period which is still reveling iin urban decay and poverty and is ultimately thrilling, difficult but necessary cinema.