The Brigand (1961 film)


The Brigand is a 1961 Italian historical drama film written and directed by Renato Castellani. It premiered in competition at the 22nd Venice [International Film Festival|22nd edition] of the Venice Film Festival.

Cast

  • Adelmo Di Fraia as Michele Rende
  • Serena Vergano as Miliella Stigliano
  • Francesco Seminario as Nino Stigliano
  • Mario Ierardi as Pataro
  • Anna Filippini as Giulia Ricadi
  • Giovanni Basile as Fimiani
  • Renato Terra as Carmelo
  • Elena Sestito as Nino's Mother
  • Angela Sirianni as Nino's Grandmother

Production

The film was produced by Cineriz with a budged of 98 millions lire. It is based on the 1951 historical novel The Brigand by Giuseppe Berto. After a pre-production of over a year, it was shot in 10 months in Calabria. The cast mostly consisted on non-professional actors, the majority of whom recruited directly on location. In its original cut, it run about 3 and a half hour.

Release

The film had its premiere at the 22nd Venice International Film Festival, in the main competition section, winning the FIPRESCI prize.

Reception

wrote: "The story finds in him a careful and accurate narrator, now polemical, now inspired, not always able, however, to impose a harmonious unity on the narration nor to keep the often epic atmosphere of the film clear of certain errors of taste and style, certain dramatic novelties which smack not so much of exasperation as of mere exaggeration".