The Basilisks (1963)

I’ve only seen one Lina Wertmuller movie and that was Love And Anarchy, which was great. Wertmuller’s debut film The Basilisks (1963; I basilischi aka The Lizards) was featured in the Mubi library in a remastered new edition. One sleepy Saturday morning, I decided to take a gamble on it and after the five minutes, I was glad that I did, as it opens with a sequence narrating the afternoon siesta where the entire town is practically asleep after eating lunch. Set in a small town in Southern Italy against a scenic mountainside and made up of brick and stone lanes of apartments and flats, it is apparently similar to a place Wertmuller grew up in; she was inspired by a recent visit where she realised nothing had really changed. Filmed in black-and-white by cinematographer Gianni Di Venanzo (right after he shot Fellini’s 8 1/2), it is a neo-realist drama with moments of humour and melancholy observations about such a place where nothing happens. Focusing on three young fellas – Tony (Antonio Petruzzi), Francesco (Stefano Satta Flores) and Sergio (Sergio Ferrarino) – who try to chase women (who are not let out or only accompanied by family), avoid being married off by their families for economic benefits, and dream about the fast life in the city of Rome. Even within the provincial area, there are still pressures for wealthier people like shop owners to not hang out with the children of farmers. A socialist initiative beckons farmers to work together to own a stake in their livelihood while others get nostalgic – both farmers and landowners – over the iron rule of the fascist parties. I thought this was an observational, entertaining yet sad coming-of-age story, backed by a score from none other than Ennio Morricone, which moves from oddball tones to operatic flourishes. Great small moments showing the post-war influence of pop culture such as a young guy sitting in a club silent and still, a dejected expression on his face, while listening to an upbeat record of ‘Let’s twist again.’ Specific to its location but relatable in its focus on place and people, this was well worth seeking out (and at 85 minutes running time as well). Available to stream on Mubi. Recommended.