Cinema
Padre Padrone
Padre padrone
Paolo and Vittorio Taviani · 1977
Synopsis
Sardinia. A shepherd comes to fetch his six-year-old son, Gavino, from primary school and takes him to mind the sheep in the mountains. The child spends years there alone with the animals, under the watch of a tyrannical father who beats him when he disobeys. He grows up like this, without learning to read, while his father rules every aspect of the family's life.
Context
The film adapts the autobiographical narrative by Gavino Ledda, a Sardinian shepherd turned linguist, who appears on screen himself. Produced for Italian public television, it is spoken in Sardinian, Italian and Latin. Omero Antonutti plays the father, Fabrizio Forte the child and Saverio Marconi the young man, with Marcella Michelangeli as the mother. It was released in France as early as July 1977.
Who it is for
Nearly two hours; not recommended for children under twelve in Switzerland. The father's harshness towards the child is shown head-on.
Prizes and reception
Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1977, under a jury chaired by Roberto Rossellini; the film circulates today in a restored print.
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