Review of The Leopard (1963) by Augustine H — 09 Dec 2013

A perfect slice of Italy set during the political turmoil at the end of the 19th century.

The shift of powers, the end of the reign of the two Sicily, the years of Garibaldi and unification of Italy.

The beginning of a new political era..

THE LEOPARD (IL GATTOPARDO)..describes this specific revolutionary time through the RISORGIMENTO of SICILY...a region of the south were poverty was predominant and rich old benevolent families were treated as royalties..

The movie is extremely long, but it really engages the history of Italy , making the movie a very interesting Period drama.

The actors (an international cast, Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon), are all fantastic and Burt Lancaster delivers a magnificent performance. All his dialogues are memorable and most of them echoes the actual situation of nowadays confused Italy.

It's almost like a sort of paradox.

But to cite one:

Prince Don Fabrizio Salina (Burt Lancaster) says 'eternal sleep, that is what Sicilians want. And they will always resent anyone who tries to awaken them, even to bring them the most wonderful of gifts. And, between ourselves, I doubt very strongly whether this new Kingdom has very many gifts for us in its luggage. All Sicilian expression, even the most violent, is really a wish for death. Our sensuality, wish for oblivion. Our knifings and shootings, a hankering after extinction. Our laziness, our spiced and drugged sherbets, a desire for voluptuous immobility, that is... for death again.'.

In the whole quote Sicily can be seen as Italy today, were Italians refuse to wake up from their slumber..

Although made in 1963 The movie is very actual, political and moralistic on a level that no many movies have achieved ...