Review of Seduced and Abandoned (1964) by Espen N — 23 Feb 2008

Some films are caricatures of life, and since humor is a dangerously efficient devise as critique - Pietro Germi is a conscious filmmaker, who is not afraid to exaggerate Italian stereotypes in his films.

The father of the family in â??Seduced and Abandonedâ?? is the proud leader of his herd, and the golden calf - the family name, seems like the only thing worth protecting. The desperate father in this film, played by Saro Urzì, is reminiscent of the one in Felliniâ??s â??Amarcordâ??, who is also preoccupied with honor, likes to show his way around, and easily overreacts his children's mistakes.

Is this still our impression of a stereotypical Italian father? His daughter, played by Stefania Sandrelli is the victim of her sisterâ??s fiancéeâ??s lust, causing her father to erupt in anger, and wish for vengeance.

The film's premise is the ancient Italian law declaring; if one man rapes a woman, he can go free by marrying her, instead of jail. Even though the father gets what he wants by doing unjust things, and the quarrel between the two families rages on to violent solutions, there are much comedy, especially surrounding what both parts share: Italian temperament! The Italians' temperament is famous for turning physical, and thatâ??s something to look forward to each and every time the father gets mad, which are not few.

I think the filmâ??s weakness itâ??s the length; towards the ending everything feels outworn, simply because Germi wants to stress how Italian dignity is almost bigger than life. Anyhow, this film works great as a funny assault on Italian self-confidence.