1900- Novecento (1976)

VHS CASE/SIDE

Length of film:  317 Minutes (Heavily Edited: 255 Minutes)

Rating: Unrated (R)

Genre: Drama, History

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci

Starring: Robert De Niro, Gerard Depardieu, Dominique Sanda, Francesca Bertini, Laura Betti, Donald Sutherland, Burt Lancaster, Romolo Valli

IMDB Rank: 7.7/10

Part 1 Time:  162 Minutes (Heavily Edited: 127 Minutes)

Part 2 Time:  155 Minutes (Heavily Edited: 128 Minutes)

***This film is perhaps one of the longest films supported and produced by a major North American film company, lasting well over 5 hours long. The film was originally intended to be spilt into two parts for audiences to view at separate screenings. However, when the film was split into two parts for its European launch, many audience members chose not to see part two. As a result, both parts of the film were combined into one when it was released in North America.

*** As with many Paramount two-tape films, the first tape does not end at the official intermission of 127 minutes, but rather 142 minutes following Alfredo’s wedding announcement.

Where does the first part end? Attila Mellanchini (Donald Sutherland) and fellow Fascist members walk toward the town square in protest.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “Jail to Jail” group shouts, referring to individuals who identify as Communists.

First line of dialogue on the second part: “I feel like I never want to go home again.” Alfredo Berlinghieri (Robert De Niro) speaks to Ada Chiostri Polan (Dominique Sanda) as he swims in a pool.

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal, the year is 1923 and Fascists control much of the Italian political sphere through the Benito Mussolini regime. There is still much tension in the country between the wealthy and worker populations, with the wealthy supporting Fascist ideology and the workers embracing Communism. Small protests are erupting across Italy, but are quickly stopped by the Italian government. How will this political infighting impact Alfredo and Olmo’s (Gerard Depardieu) friendship moving forward?

Which part is better? Part one focuses on the childhood of Alfredo and Olmo while living on Berlinghieri estate. Here we see the different wealth and social spectrums the children come from. After World War One, Alfredo and Olmo are again reunited and continue their friendship. Part two introduces Alfredo becoming the new padrone (land owner) following the death of his father Giovanni (Romlo Valli). Here Alfredo and Olmo’s friendship becomes strained due to the political and social tensions present within Italy. Due to the content, story development, and conflicts faced between characters, part two is significantly better.

Academy Awards: None