Introduction"Beach House" (Italian title: "La Casa Al Mare") is a 1977 Italian comedy movie directed by Sergio Citti, written by Pier Paolo Pasolini and starring Mariangela Melato and Michele Placido. The film is set in the coastal town of Ostia, Italy and follows the lives of a number of characters. It explores problems such as morality, hypocrisy, desire, and family as well as the mistakes and contradictions of contemporary Italian society.
Plot SummaryThe movie starts with a group of friends at a beach house in Ostia. They are quickly joined by the rental property's eccentric owner, Eugenia (Melato), and her weird buddy, Troccoli (Paolo Bonacelli). The friends are disturbed by Eugenia's sadistic actions, and they choose to leave the rental property. However, as occasions unfold, the so-called lead characters need to face their own hypocrisy and passions, and they are revealed to be morally weak.
Amidst the mayhem, we are introduced to a number of other characters. Urbano Degli Atti (Michele Placido), a poor and naive epileptic fisherman, becomes the things of desire for Eugenia and her friends, even more complicating the situation. Meanwhile, the relationship in between the villa's housemaid (Liana Del Balzo) and her lover (Leopoldo Trieste), a homeless man, contributes to the film's intrigue and dark humor.
As stress increase, the group continues to face issues of lust, jealousy, and betrayal, eventually leading to several awful and shocking events. These events serve to expose the ugliness and ethical decline of the characters and society as a whole.
ThemesThroughout "Beach House", numerous themes are checked out, reflecting the intricacies and contradictions of Italian society in the 1970s. The movie not only works as a critique of the bourgeoisie however likewise takes on concerns such as wealth, hardship, morality, and sexuality.
Morality and Hypocrisy: The movie's characters are shown to be ethically jeopardized, often judging others while engaging in similar vices themselves. The pals at the vacation home look down on Eugenia and Troccoli, but they eventually engage in ruthlessness, extramarital relations, lies, and adjustments. This overlap of immorality and hypocrisy is strengthened by the movie's open-ended resolution, which leaves a number of characters still living in deceit and betrayal.
Sexuality and Desire: Sexuality is a prominent style in the film and is presented in different forms, from lustful impulses to gratuitous violence. Several characters are driven by their base desires, resulting in jealousy, deception, and even death. Eugenia's eccentricity and destination to Urbano is particularly unnerving, displaying human debauchery in its most raw kinds.
Class Divide: The movie showcases social differences in between the wealthy rental property occupants and the impoverished residents like Urbano and the housemaid. The characters' snobbery and sense of entitlement contrast with the simpleness and humbleness of the less fortunate characters, highlighting the huge differences between the 2 worlds.
Style and Aesthetic"Beach House" features a visual design that highlights the movie's themes and characters' flaws. Director Sergio Citti utilizes sharp contrasts in lighting, color, and surroundings to accentuate the intrinsic ugliness and vices of the characters. The settings and costumes likewise add to the film's tone, highlighted by a haunting score that both evokes and contrasts with the seaside setting.
ReceptionUpon its release, "Beach House" got blended vital reception, with some praising its expedition of themes and distinct visual style, while others slammed the movie for its various characters and lack of resolution. To this day, the film continues to be dissentious, generating dispute and conversation about its material and the nature of Italian society during the 1970s.
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