The Priest's Wife

In the Italian movie The wife of the priest (La moglie del prete ) from 1970 playing Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni the lead roles. The tragicomic Commedia all'italiana was directed by Dino Risi. It was built in the same year when the divorce was allowed in Italy and takes the celibacy of priests in the Catholic Church on the grain.

Action

For four years the young Valeria was from Padua found a man until she has found that he is married. In a furious rage they demolished his car. When at home she puts a whole box of sleeping pills for ingestion and retrieves the randomly discovered a number helpline on. The helper at the other end of the line is the Catholic priest Don Mario. Although he can not keep from their suicide attempt, but when she next day, just saved, awakens in the hospital, she calls him. During his visit, she falls in love with him.

Now she is always searching for the near Marios, the courtship by the provocatively dressed woman in public feel uncomfortable. The celibacy forbids him. After he has overlooked also developed feelings for her, he sneaks away from a meal. You find him in his " hiding " in a seminary, where they exchange a kiss. Mario overcomes his indecision, they are a couple. Valeria's parents take the lowdown on with mixed feelings. Mario puts his hopes for a reform of the Church and is a Dispensgesuch to marry in spite of priestly activity Valeria can. A serious damper obtains their joy, as Mario would like to introduce his fiancée his living in poorer family: the mother who has used all their efforts to ensure that the son becomes a priest and who has been proud to never want to see him. We ordered Mario thing in his request to Rome, where he calls for a while Valeria. In Rome arrived, she notes that he has been promoted to monsignor and entrusted with important tasks, has installed in Rome and did not find anything about to leave the church hold out regarding his request. The fact that she is expecting a child from him, she conceals him.

1971 reviews

The film magazine Positif exulted, the Commedia all'italiana set with this film continues its existence. The work to deprive the two areas on which a garrulous journalism attempted to settle him, and to which the public have deported the film: the painful celibacy issue and the mere comedic number. The scenario was a joke, risk narrative talent and the film is more than just a series well-played skits; at a higher level of meaning, he presented the structures of power within the Church. Playful and prosper Sophia Loren to have forgotten that she is pretty old for this role, and they prove to be a good actress. Your bull militant rhythm appears as a personal revenge from her and her partner, producer Carlo Ponti suffered against the prohibition of divorce.

In the German reviews, there was little understanding of Risis tragicomic approach. The mirror imputed risk, not knowing what he really wants and unsafe to fluctuate in a " movie mishmash " between comedy, satire, melodrama and tragedy. He plays down the issue and the two actors acted fade. Similarly, the lexicon of international film received criticism found the film for a comedy "too little amusing " and for contributing to celibacy discussion " too superficial ". Hans Greve of film criticism was surprised " about Dino Risi's old-fashioned well-kept clothing style - an almost enigmatic plan Abbildlichkeit - somehow elusive, " perfect " forms, almost like Italian photo novels. " This film was " harmless smooth, plaster -behaved imaged " and lack of pace boring. And " as the carousel rotates popular Italian; just to the old design: how - in the end - but everything revolves in a circle; or: how to - with concessions - all the old leaves; or: how to - almost true - remains most faithful. "

1970 in film Screenplay Ruggero Maccari Bernardino Zapponi Film score Alfio Contini Positif (magazine)
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