Set in the post-war Germany, Rossellini’s final film of his war trilogy (of which I’ve only seen this) completely shocked me. I’d not seen devastation of war and the aftermath. Images formed with words turned vacuous. I cannot forget the cruel circumstances which persuades the young boy to poison his father. The final scenes were very disturbing. I just watched the film not thinking too much about anything else than what I saw. I remember the boy’s remorseful face, how he walked restlessly on the deserted ruins of the building as if trying to hide from himself. It seems like a long time ago. I’ve to see this film again- yes including the first two parts. [“That his subsequent works all move away from strictly realistic constraints is strongly suggestive that this movie acted as a bridge between the two styles.”— Jeremy Heilman]

— March 17, 08