Journey to Italy (1954)
Director: Roberto Rosselini
Continuing in her 'outcast' years in Italian neo-realism, Ingrid Bergman continues with another movie which essentially showcases what Naples has to offer to tourist - the villas, museums, the morbid past history and lazy pace of life. In this setting, Katherine and Alex (Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders), a British couple married for 8 years, drive to Naples to dispose off a deceased relative's property. We can see that they are undergoing a rough patch in their relationship. Their going to Italy and taking a long journey is their attempt at reconciliation and rekindling the spark. It obviously does not seem to be working. This uppity couple arrive in their Bentley driving through the country roads complaining about the bugs and unruly drivers.
While waiting for a potential buyer, they mix with the upper crust of society, the rich, bourgeois and royalties. All that relaxing does not mend their relationship. On the contrary, it just invokes more hatred, jealousy and annoyance with each other.
They try separate itinerary for each other; Alex goes to Island of Capri, Katherine visits various museums. All in vain. Alex is a cynical critic whilst Katherine is a hopeless romantic.
When all attempts fail, they decide on a divorce. As they plan to return home, they are caught in a religious street procession. Miraculously (divine intervention or otherwise), as Katherine is caught in a stampede. Alex who goes to her rescue and both realise that the flame is still there.
Rosselini's movies that he did with Bergman has these undertones that mirror their sordid relationship which was admonished by the general public. Even though his five films with her never reached the accolades achieved by his earlier films (Rome, Open City, 1945 and Paisa, 1946), his later films nevertheless never lost its artistic value. Pandit Jawarhalal, impressed with Rosselini's filmmaking of involving the lay people, invited him over to India to make a film on India. His attempt was cut short after Rosselini, whilst married to Bergman, created an international controversy by seducing a married Indian filmmaker's wife (Sonali Das Gupta). It also effectively ended his union with Bergman.
The letter that ignited the greatest love story between two individuals at the peak of their careers.
Director: Roberto Rosselini
Continuing in her 'outcast' years in Italian neo-realism, Ingrid Bergman continues with another movie which essentially showcases what Naples has to offer to tourist - the villas, museums, the morbid past history and lazy pace of life. In this setting, Katherine and Alex (Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders), a British couple married for 8 years, drive to Naples to dispose off a deceased relative's property. We can see that they are undergoing a rough patch in their relationship. Their going to Italy and taking a long journey is their attempt at reconciliation and rekindling the spark. It obviously does not seem to be working. This uppity couple arrive in their Bentley driving through the country roads complaining about the bugs and unruly drivers.
While waiting for a potential buyer, they mix with the upper crust of society, the rich, bourgeois and royalties. All that relaxing does not mend their relationship. On the contrary, it just invokes more hatred, jealousy and annoyance with each other.They try separate itinerary for each other; Alex goes to Island of Capri, Katherine visits various museums. All in vain. Alex is a cynical critic whilst Katherine is a hopeless romantic.
When all attempts fail, they decide on a divorce. As they plan to return home, they are caught in a religious street procession. Miraculously (divine intervention or otherwise), as Katherine is caught in a stampede. Alex who goes to her rescue and both realise that the flame is still there.Rosselini's movies that he did with Bergman has these undertones that mirror their sordid relationship which was admonished by the general public. Even though his five films with her never reached the accolades achieved by his earlier films (Rome, Open City, 1945 and Paisa, 1946), his later films nevertheless never lost its artistic value. Pandit Jawarhalal, impressed with Rosselini's filmmaking of involving the lay people, invited him over to India to make a film on India. His attempt was cut short after Rosselini, whilst married to Bergman, created an international controversy by seducing a married Indian filmmaker's wife (Sonali Das Gupta). It also effectively ended his union with Bergman.
The letter that ignited the greatest love story between two individuals at the peak of their careers.
Dear Mr. Rossellini,
I saw your films Open City and Paisan, and enjoyed them very much. If you need a Swedish actress who speaks English very well, who has not forgotten her German, who is not very understandable in French, and who in Italian knows only "ti amo", I am ready to come and make a film with you.
Ingrid Bergman
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