Brother, Who Art Thou?

Cementing his reputation as one of the most important modern Italian filmmakers, writer-director Gianni Amelio's latest drama, The Way We Laughed, deals with the plight of two Sicilian brothers who go north to Turin in search of a better life. Luchino Visconti's 1960 film Rocco and His Brothers followed five...

By David Ehrenstein

August 8, 2002

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "22004575",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "22595215",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "17482312",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18711090",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "23181625",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18711090",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17720761",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

Cementing his reputation as one of the most important modern Italian filmmakers, writer-director Gianni Amelio's latest drama, The Way We Laughed, deals with the plight of two Sicilian brothers who go north to Turin in search of a better life. Luchino Visconti's 1960 film Rocco and His Brothers followed five siblings in roughly the same situation, and Amelio's film, set in almost the same time frame, can be said to take up where Visconti left off. But Amelio, whose sense of social observation is closer to Pietro Germi than Visconti or the other Italian neorealists, is after something more elusive.

The older brother, Giovanni (played by Amelio favorite Enrico Lo Verso), sacrifices everything for his younger brother, Pietro (Francesco Giuffrida), because Pietro can read. Giovanni is convinced a great future awaits his brother and takes all manner of demeaning jobs to help him get an education. But Pietro is a dreamy wastrel who cuts classes and appears indifferent to his brother's sacrifice.

Just when you think the story is little more than a male reworking of a female self-sacrifice epic like The Hard Way, Amelio shifts it into another key, suggesting that the brothers are two sides of the same personality coin. Beautifully made and performed, this is a film of considerable insight into both the life of the impoverished and the mystery of human personality.

David Ehrenstein

A message from Editor-in-Chief Tom Finkel: This industry is changing, and we can no longer solely rely on advertising revenue to move us forward and accomplish our goals. If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our newsroom and help us plan for the future. : This industry is changing, and we can no longer solely rely on advertising revenue to move us forward and accomplish our goals. If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our newsroom and help us plan for the future.

Support Today

Brother, Who Art Thou?

Trending

Sex & Dating

Despite Bans, Florida Still Watches More Porn Than Most States

Lists

Where to Find the Best Key Lime Pie in Miami

Government

What Newly Formed Tropical Storm Erin Means for Miami

Government

Trump Admin Slashes Funding for Signature Bridge Overtown Park