A jewel of world cinematography. This Visconti's film showed how post-war Italy started to change itself, the differences in culture and habits among the Italians from the South with those from the North, the development of industrial North and the underdevelopment of the South (often close to the status of any developing country). It showed also how tight are the relationship of the family in the South and the dominance of the parents who may order anything to any of their children even married. The tragedy started when Rocco's brother (Renato Salvatori)became jealous of the Rocco's success as a boxer, and killed his former fiancée (Annie Girardot) because she felt in love with Rocco (Delon). The conclusion of the film is that old things and/or system are becoming replaced by young new ones.
This film was one of the first of then young Claudia Cardinale, who played a secondary role.
This film was one of the first of then young Claudia Cardinale, who played a secondary role.