La Terra Trema (The Earth Trembles)

La Terra Trema (The Earth Trembles)

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Movie Reviews of La Terra Trema (The Earth Trembles)

Movie Review: What We Need are Tax Cuts for the Fishermen
Summary: 5 Stars

The story is that of a struggle against the powers that be; sometimes the powers are people, sometimes it is nature. The focus is on one family who tries to overcome their poverty by buying their own boat and becoming their own boss. The instigator is the son, Ntonio, who has been in the army and seen the outside world. He is ready to level the playing field and, at first, the family succeeds. However, the writer/director Visconti does not intend to give us a quick happy ending. Misfortune strikes and we see success turn to failure. The movie becomes a sort of Marxist message that only when everyone works collectively for the common good can we all succeed. However, I did not feel that this message was overbearing to the viewer who is not inclined to buy into that philosophy. There is much in the movie that could even substantiate Capitalism. Look, for example, how Ntonio and his family succeed when they save up their money, mortgage their house and go into business for themselves. The writer/director's point might be that their own greed led them to failure but it could easily be just a twist of fate that kept them from rising to the top. This example of individual initiative is a powerful part of the story. Nonetheless, it is the depths of the descent that comes after success that takes us through the film.

I rated this film a "5 star" because of its' cinematic achievement. Visconti worked something short of a miracle on a shoestring in putting this film together. On the negative side, the movie is too long (Visconti appartently had to "cut" it to 160 minutes). In addition the politics is too one-sided. I don't profess to know how things were in a post-war fishing village in Sicily. I presume that much of the scenarios presented are close to the reality of the time and place. However, nothing succeeds like a good example and the idea that no one would attempt to duplicate the family's idea struck me more as a comment on the fishermen than a comment on the system. Still, the interpersonal relationships and the life in the village are brought to the screen in such an excellent way that I'll let the politics be.