TEHRAN – Cinemathek of Tehran’s Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) will be screening Vittorio Desica’s 1960 war drama film “Two Women” on Monday.
The screening is set at 6pm and a review session will be held in front of film critic Sahar Asurazad, reported Honaronlein.
Based on a 1957 novel of the same name by Alberto Moravia, the film tells the story of a woman trying to protect her young daughter from the horrors of war.
The story is fictional, but based on actual events in 1944, it appears that in Rome and country Lazio, the Moroccan troops of French expeditions embark on a wave of massive amounts of rape and murder, offering a Allied campaign for the liberation of Italy from the reign of Benito Mussolini.
The 100-minute film stars Sofia Lauren, Jean-Paul Belmond, Eleonora Brown and Raf Barone.
In the film, Cecila (Lauren) is a widowed shopkeeper and raises a religiously 12-year-old daughter (Brown) in Rome during World War II. Following the Roman bombing, the mother and daughter fled to the native Siocialia of Cecira, a rural mountainous region in central Italy.
After they arrive at Ciociaria, Cesira is attracting the attention of Michele (Belmondo), a young local intellectual with communist sympathy. Rosetta sees Michele as her father figure and builds a strong bond with him. Michele is later taken prisoner by German soldiers, who are forced to act as guides through mountainous areas.
After the allies captured Rome in June 1944, Cecira and Rosetta decided to return to the city. When the two are able to find a shelter in the neighbouring village, Rosetta disappears in the middle of the night, causing Cecira to panic. She believes Rosetta went to find Michele, but later learns that Michele was killed by the Germans.
Rosetta goes out with her older boy and returns. Cecira is furious and upset, and slaps Rosetta for her actions, but Rosetta doesn’t respond and remains emotionally distant. When Cecira informs Rosetta of Michele’s death, Rosetta begins to cry. The film ends with Cecira comforting the child.
Sofia Lauren’s performance received critical acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Actress of any other accolades.
Vittorio de Sica (1901-1974) was an Italian film director and actor and a leading figure in the neo-realist movement.
One of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history, four of his films, “Sciuscià” and “Bike Thief” (honor), “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” and “Il Giardino dei Finzi Contini” won Academy Awards.
The Iranian Artist Forum is located in the Artist Park on North Musabi Street on Talekani Street.
SS/SAB