FEBRUARY 5

Film:

Voyage to Italy (Rossellini  1954) Blu-Ray 265        

Reading (to be done by February 11):

Roberto Rossellini.  "Rossellini's Ten Commandments to his students at the Centro Sperimentale." (in course reader)

Eric Rohmer. "The Land of Miracles."  "(in course reader)

Paper topic (paper due February 12. All undergraduate papers to be printed and stapled and brought to class. All graduate papers to be sent via email to elkrugamigos@earthlink.net, attached as a .doc, .docx, .rtf or .odt file):

There is a long tradition of films that have unlikely and puzzling endings, conclusions that may seem out of place with the rest of the film, that leave us with hanging questions or unsettled feelings. In the case of Voyage to Italy, the ending has always been interpreted in a number of ways, including by Rossellini. 

For this week, I want to sit with your experience of the film for a few days and then write about the ending – how do you feel about the conclusion you just saw? Do you take it at face value or do you see any irony in the scene? Does it seem genuinely happy? I want you to reference details of the shooting and editing, as well as performance in your discussion. Keep in mind its last lines:

"Tell me that you love me." 

"Well, if I do, will you promise not to take advantage of me?"

"Yes, but tell me, I want to hear you say it."

"Alright, I love you."