The Wide Blue Road (1957)

Synopsis: Gillo Pontecorvo's 1957 film THE WIDE BLUE ROAD is a moving neorealist drama that uses lush color photography and features a commanding performance by Yves Montand. Working in the style of Rossellini, Pontecorvo uses non-professional actors in all but the star roles, authentically... Gillo Pontecorvo's 1957 film THE WIDE BLUE ROAD is a moving neorealist drama that uses lush color photography and features a commanding performance by Yves Montand. Working in the style of Rossellini, Pontecorvo uses non-professional actors in all but the star roles, authentically capturing the look and feel of the lives of impoverished fisherman in Sicily. Squarcio (Montand) makes a better living than the other men in the village--who obey the law and fish with nets--by using dangerous homemade bombs. The men tolerate his breaking the rules because he fishes far from the village. But the new coast guard captain is determined to catch him. Though Squarcio is committed to providing a better life for his wife, Rosetta (Alida Valli), and their children, he refuses to join a new cooperative that allows the fishermen to set a fair price for their fish. Squarcio insists on standing apart. While Squarcio is portrayed as an admirable individualist, Pontecorvo's sympathies, as shown later in both THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS and BURN, clearly lie with the men trying to get a better life for everyone through cooperation--breaking the cycle of exploitation created by the every-man-for-himself ethos of Squarcio. THE WIDE BLUE ROAD made its United States theatrical premiere in June 2001 in a restored print, prompted by the efforts of Jonathan Demme and Dustin Hoffman. [More]