ROCCO E I SUOI FRATELLI

Operatic in scope, and artfully blending emotionalism and realism, Luchino Visconti’s ROCCO E I SUOI FRATELLI (1960) was inspired by the migration of southern families to northern Italian cities, often resulting in the dissolution of family relationships and values. The film explores themes of family, jealousy, loyalty, sexuality, sin, and forgiveness, against a socio-political backdrop of economic disparity and evolving concepts of masculinity. Exquisitely photographed by legendary cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunno, the film follows five brothers and their anxious mother as they adapt to the city’s harsh realities. Two of the young men, Rocco (Alain Delon) and Simone (Renato Salvatori), become involved with the same woman, a prostitute named Nadia (Annie Girardot), with tragic results.