The Garden Of The Finzi Continis

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Set in northern Italy's Ferrara community at the outbreak of World War II, this classic film by Vittorio De Sica concerns an old, aristocratic Jewish family, the Finzi-Continis, who maintain their isolated, idyllic ways within the stone walls of their lush estate while Mussolini imprisons Jews outside. The story's central figure, young Giorgio (Lino Capolicchio), is a middle-class Jew who has always found perfect sanctuary within the Finzi-Continis' walls and who is in love with his childhood friend from that family, Micol (Dominique Sanda). Micol, however, is sexually restless and fit to burst for want of experiences impossible under government oppression. As Giorgio suffers his estrangement from her, De Sica traces the disintegration of a lost and beautiful way of life, slowly turning his focus from the privileged refuge of tennis courts and private libraries to police barriers and rooms where Jews await transport to concentration camps. This powerful work of memory tragically captures a loss of innocence on both the most personal and historical stages. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis.......2007-07-05

Vittorio de Sica's gorgeous, elegiac film is a solemn meditation on loss of innocence set during one of the most turbulent eras in world history. The Finzi-Continis believe their privilege will protect them from fascist oppression, but their willed isolation and passivity only makes their eventual downfall that much more tragic. Certain images--Giorgio and Micol's ill-fated romantic tryst in a buggy, the slow-motion halcyon portraits of each family member that closes the film--stick with you. A poetic, lyrical masterwork by the great Neorealist director.

brilliant historical drama on youth and italian fascism.......2005-11-04

This is a deep and lyrical film on the Italian brand of fascism, which many have argued was a "lighter" and more acceptable version than the Hitlerian variety. Well, in this film, what that translates into is that the noose tightens more slowly. In this, you witness gifted and lucky youth, as they attempt to cope with and then shut out what is happening outside the confines of the walls of their property. There are the aristocratic and beautiful Finzi-Continis and their poorer Jewish confreres. Of course, there is also a wonderfully sensitive story of young love, with all the seemingly endless pain that can entail, which sets a backdrop to the dangers that they all face. The fascists are still brutes, but in Italy they know how to smile before slashing when the time is right for them.

The film also takes place in Ferrara, which for me was fascinating personally. I lived quite near that city, and often went there to stroll with my family. I knew the area well, and this film provides a snapshot of what it was like for many who lived 70 years ago. It was the end of a world, vividly portrayed as lost potential.

This was, I believe, Dominique Sanda's first film. She is less well known in the US because she chose not to come to Hollywood, though she was wooed for years with stardom. Instead, she chose to act in high quality serious films in Europe, which are always a treat to come across. Sanda is a genuine artist. In this film, her acting is flawless and subtle - she is arrogant, sensitive, caring, and spoilt all at the same time and totally believable. The other actors shine less brightly, perhaps, but are still excellent.

Warmly recommended.

The fate of refusing to believe the unbelievable when it's the truth.......2005-10-18

How people blind themselves to the reality around them and insulate themselves from the truth. The movie deals with the Fascist takeover of Jewish property and freedoms in Italy during WW II.

The focus is on one Jewish family and their refusal to take seriously what's happening to them by the authorities until it's too late: by movie's end they are stripped of their property and are being readied to be shipped to a concentration camp. Yet they STILL can't see the writing on the wall. Their insular lives are totally consumed with playing tennis and bicycle riding and flirting with one another. (The walled-in garden is a major symbol of their insularity.)

De Sica makes the ending as painful and shocking as possible for the viewer by photographing everything in bright sunshine and pastels. And painful and shocking it is - like watching lambs being sent to their slaughter. An evocative, excellent movie.

A painful portrait with under the vision of De Sica!.......2005-10-13

A love story placed in Mussolini 's Italy in the intimacy of an aristocratic Jew family whom ignore their condition until they are arrested and deported.
Solid script, admirable cast, that deservedly won the academy Award in 1971 as Best Foreign Film.

Beautiful, haunting , foreign drama.......2005-03-06

The Garden of the Finzi Contini's is not only one of the most
powerful and emotionally touching films ever made, it contains
one of the most powerful, beautiful, and emotionally touching
SOUNDTRACKS ever scored. After seeing this haunting work of art,
I tracked down the Italian import cd soundtrack of the film
after much searching and obtained it. As said before, the film
itself about A Jewish family that is doomed, is heartbreaking.
You know it's coming, and when it does, I actually cried it was
so moving. Again, the music in this film is nothing short of
brilliant and contributed greatly to the emotional impact of the
story. Not a film for the shallow or simpled minded. It's a
serious, dramatic work of art that will remain timeless. The
Adam Sandler, "Kill Bill" crowd can kindly stay away from great
cinema like this.

James Stewart

Arthur Cohn Presents (American Dream/Behind the Sun/Black and White in Color/A Brief Vacation/Central Station/Dangerous Moves/The Garden of the Finzi-Continis/One Day in September/Two Bits)

Average customer rating:

Arthur Cohn Presents (American Dream/Behind the Sun/Black and White in Color/A Brief Vacation/Central Station/Dangerous Moves/The Garden of the Finzi-Continis/One Day in September/Two Bits)
Starring: Fernanda Montenegro , Marília Pêra , Vinícius de Oliveira , Soia Lira , and Othon Bastos
Director: Walter Salles , Vittorio De Sica , and Kevin Macdonald
Manufacturer: Homevision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0001689WY
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Description

In the history of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Arthur Cohn has received more Oscars® than any other producer. He is the only foreign film producer to have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. Home Vision Entertainment is proud to present this unique collection of highly acclaimed films produced by the legendary Arthur Cohn, available exclusively from HVe in this special nine-disc collector's set.

Assembled and distributed by Home Vision Entertainment, this homage to Academy Award™-winning Producer Arthur Cohn is an unprecedented collaboration among Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Classics, Paramount Pictures,
Universal Studios, Miramax Studios, and Buena Vista's Home Entertainment Group.

This unique set features the following films, produced by Arthur Cohn, on DVD:
American Dream, Behind the Sun, Black and White in Color, Sky Above Mud Below, A Brief Vacation ,The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, One Day in September, Two Bits, and Dangerous Moves

Oscar™ and Academy Award™ are the registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

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