i’ve hardly seen any rossellini films. he’s a director who i need to catch up on almost his entire career. havent seen “voyage in italy”.
but i know “open city”, and i cant imagine it to be anything other than his masterpiece, regardless of what else he’s made. its one of those monumental films in the history of cinema.
I started a petition a few weeks ago to get Voyage in Italy onto Criterion, as well as Europa 51, Vanina Vanini, and Fear.
For now, try the Rossellini Director’s Series on Artisan:
http://www.amazon.com/Roberto-Rossellini-Directors-Artisan-DVD/dp/B0000V6EYU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1242501446&sr=1-3
Well, Voyage to Italy is just about my favourite, excellent use of locations and it had a big impact on Cahiers du Cinéma critics turned director. George Sanders was very dismissive of Rossellini, thought he didn;t have a clue what he was doing. There is a problem with Sanders’ performance, as there is also with some of the acting in Era Notte a Roma (saved by Giovanna Ralli), and parts of Paisa. Flowers of St Francis suits its subject, an unpretentious film lacking any religious pomposity. Rome Open City probably his most famous and important and certainly worth seeing. I have mixed feelings on Rossellini, but there are some notable ones, like Rise to Power of Louis XIV i’ve not seen.
Blue Velvet
Joshua Martin
am i only the one who thinks voyage in italy this rossellini’s greatest film and that it still doesn’t get the attention it deserves? i find this film much more interesting, compelling and influential than open city. what do people think?