I Fidanzati (1962)

Director: Ermanno Olmi
Country: Italy 

The Italian filmmaker Ermanno Olmi elaborated one of the simpliest and most beautiful films ever, "I Fidanzati" which is an impressive piece of work, characterized by its minimalistic use of the camera and an inspiring cinematography work, the opening sequence is a long shot masterfully conceived to introduce us two lonely souls, two characters with real emotions and real flesh. 

 

This film is about separation, nostalgia and how emotions and love slowly fade away with time: Giovanni got a new job as a welder in a plant located in Sicily, hence he gotta leaves his girlfriend named Liliana behind. We can find loneliness and sadness between them at the same time as well as we can see the transition of Italy after the Second World War from a destroyed country to an industrial one. The telephone is the intermediary in their long-distance relationship and sometimes Giovanni even misses the fights and arguments he has had with Liliana, he also misses the moments of passion and love between them. 

 

While seeing the film some questions popped out of my head such as: are they better when they are far away from each other?, love is an arduos discipline? or it is just a moment of glory?. The ending is bittersweet, and we have to deduce what happened with them, they waited for each other or they broke up?, indeed love is a big mistery. 

 

 The editing, the diologue and the voice over we listen to in the last minutes when they read the letters they received from each other is very powerful, in addition the black and white cinematography by the prolific Lamberto Caimi (who also worked with Olmi in "Il Posto" another excellent film) moving from noir through novelle vague style is a superb work in conjuction with the flashbacks. Definitely an underrated treasure that deserves more recognition.