Time of Indifference (1964)

Film Synopsis
"Time of Indifference" is an Italian drama movie produced in 1964. Directed by Francesco Maselli and is based upon the 1929 unique "Gli Indifferenti" by Alberto Moravia. The film stars Claudia Cardinale, Rod Steiger, Shelley Winters and Tomas Milian. The movie is hailed as a classic example of the Italian cinema's ruminations on alienation, decadence, and moral decay in the post-war period, intertwining the personal and the political.

Plot Summary
The story happens in Rome, concentrating on the lives of the bourgeoisie Arduini family, including the mom Lisa (Shelley Winters), her kids Carla (Claudia Cardinale) and Michele (Tomas Milian), and Lisa's enthusiast Leo (Rod Steiger). The household is in a deep monetary crisis and will lose their home to their unethical lender, Balducci.

Both Leah, a pal of Leo, and Carla are drawn in to Leo. Leah (Susan Strasberg) who is suffering from terminal health problem, understands Leo's love for Carla. Meanwhile, Carla is drawn to Leo due to his strong character and the stability he represents in contrast to the life she leads with her mom and sibling. Michele, who is detached and indifferent, is privately in love with his sister.

Balducci, in a quote to gain outright control over the Arduini family wealth, encourages Leo to seduce Carla and marry her. He sees this as a practical strategy to combine his position and minimize the financial pressure on the household.

Theme and Character Development
The film takes a mentally layered exploration of the characters. Carla yearns for approval and affection, which she finds in Leo. However, Leo is a deeply flawed male, letting his ambitions cloud his judgement. Yet, the audience can't assist however empathize with his circumstance to a specific level. Lisa is portrayed as a helpless lady decreased to seeking refuge in her old-age lover at the cost of her household's self-respect.

The most conflicted character is Michele. He wrestles with the moral issue of being in love with his sis and his disdain towards Leo. His sensations culminate in an attempt to eliminate Leo. Nevertheless, he ultimately succumbs to the interaction of power, greed, and desire that takes in everybody else.

Conclusion and Impact
"Time of Indifference" is not simply a tale of a morally debased bourgeois household but successfully points the lens towards a society facing the aftermath of war and the anxious truce between the new-found freedom and the remnants of old-world charm and morality. The movie portrays a terrible truth showing the inescapable apathy that emerges from a society handling cultural shift and financial uncertainty.

The movie offers a raw and sincere representation of desires, human frailties, and relationships shaped by societal norms, making it one of the landmark movies of Italian cinema. Efficiently, "Time of Indifference" stands as an effective portrayal of post-war Italy, highlighting the rapidly changing societal norms of the time.

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