Berlanga’s fifth film was controversial in Spain- censored. Like his previous efforts, it is an ensemble comedy, he’s really riffing on Italian Neorealism (in a much lighter way than say Bunuel)
Like both Welcome Mr. Marshall! and The Rocket from Calabuch there is a voice-over narration introducing you to the small town- in this case it is the village of Fontecilla—“the train passes through without stopping”
It is Berlanga’s most accomplished film visually to date in 1957. There’s a shot at the 2-minute mark of various cups and bowls and basins catching the leaking rain – they’re staggered throughout the screen at various depths—it is the best shot of his oeuvre to date
Full of Berlanga’s trademark wit—“she’s dying again”, another ensemble—there’s no lead here. I mean Richard Basehart (Berlanga is using an English-speaking actor, dubbed, as his star again like Gwenn in Rocket) is a big name but he doesn’t show up until 43-minutes into a film under 90-minutes. José Isbert is part of the ensemble again
About six men contriving a miracle to help local commerce- a farce. They lose control of this as it spirals out of control. This is Preston Sturges hypocrisy/comedy territory. He even has “Miracle” in the title like Sturges. Decades later we have Bogdanovich with like Paper Moon as well.
At the 24-minute mark a great frame- the rope from the church bell is in the front left of the screen with an open door in the back right with light pouring in.
Banners, community—if you added newspaper clipping cutaways you’d have Capra’s community here
At the 36-minute mark a reverse crane shot overhead pulling back as the town gathers for the miracle
For the second time in a few years Basehart plays the sort of Christ-figure with jokes (La Strada)
Why not do a Gillo Pontecorvo study? It’s just 5 films. The Wide Blue Road in 1957, Kapo in 1960, The Battle of Algiers in 1966, Burn! in 1969 and Operacion Ogro in 1979.
Why not do a Gillo Pontecorvo study? It’s just 5 films. The Wide Blue Road in 1957, Kapo in 1960, The Battle of Algiers in 1966, Burn! in 1969 and Operacion Ogro in 1979.
@Anderson- thanks for the suggestion. I’d like to for sure– certainly it is an impossible task getting to them all.