AKA: Christ in Concrete
I picked this title mainly because of the cool poster, then when I read the synopsis it appealed to my socialist leanings
A good article can be found here:
http://www.henrysheehan.com/dvd/abc/christ.htmlAnd one from IMDb:
Great film about Italian immigrants, 23 July 2004
Author: green4tom from Brooklyn, USA
Have I seen this film?! Only every time I teach an urban sociology class, when I show it to my students! I can only echo the previous commentator--what a great film! The best scene--and there are many--is during the Great Depression, when the five bricklayers decides that it is Julio, who starving mouths to feed, should get half a day's work. Then, through a store window, Geremio catches one of the other bricklayers panhandling. "Heaven has forgotten us!" his workfellow says. This film, whose story was written by an Italian socialist (DiDonato) and made by socialists in London (couldn't make it in New York--it was the McCarthy period, may he rest in pieces!) is, besides being dramatically and emotionally rich, is sociologically rich. It's a brilliant portrayal of the conflict between the individualist version of the American Dream among immigrants--and the sordid reality they face. When they face it collectively, they are great men and women, in all their splendor. When they face it individually, they become alienated from themselves and each other. Though the DVD is entitled CHRIST IN CONCRETE, it is actually the prequel to the story in the novel. The last horrific scene is the first chapter of the novel, which detail's the life of Geremio's widow, Annunziata, and their son Paul, after Geremio dies. All the actors are great--but I especially like Lea Padavini--who had to learn the part phonetically, because when they hired her, she didn't speak a word of English! I also highly recommend this film.
---Aside--
to
southendmd: I just realised what your screen name means, doctor!
Yes, it is a Colle's fracture, an especially bad one apparently. I had the surgery last night and they tell me it was successful and that I should have a nice wrist once it's healed up. (That's good, I need the variety
)
Now I'm just waiting for the OK to leave. I think I'll have a ceremony where I'll burn the shoes I was wearing when this whole thing happened!
Topic: ABCs at the Movies: The Doubles Round! (Read 2564270 times)