The Machine to Kill Bad People (1952)
(La macchina ammazzacattivi)
Country: IT
Technical: bw 83m
Director: Roberto Rossellini
Cast: Gennaro Pisano, Marilyn Buferd, William Tubbs, Giovanni Amato
Synopsis:
In a small village on the Amalfi coast, an American family arrives so the father can revisit his wartime memories. At the same time, the local photographer discovers his camera lens has the power to remove unwanted people, even via the intermediary of their photo portrait.
Review:
Rossellini uses his central implied question ('Who decides who the bad people are?') to investigate general questions over the righting of wrongs and the redistribution of wealth, in this case the bequest of the town moneylender to leave all her money to the three poorest individuals (who turn out to be thieves). As a vehicle of satire and social justice it is something of a blunt tool. Like its American cousins (e.g. It's a Wonderful Life), it features an angelic emissary, in this case of the Devil, but for the most part misses the lightness of tone it urgently needs (with the exception of Renzo Rossellini's impish score).
(La macchina ammazzacattivi)
Country: IT
Technical: bw 83m
Director: Roberto Rossellini
Cast: Gennaro Pisano, Marilyn Buferd, William Tubbs, Giovanni Amato
Synopsis:
In a small village on the Amalfi coast, an American family arrives so the father can revisit his wartime memories. At the same time, the local photographer discovers his camera lens has the power to remove unwanted people, even via the intermediary of their photo portrait.
Review:
Rossellini uses his central implied question ('Who decides who the bad people are?') to investigate general questions over the righting of wrongs and the redistribution of wealth, in this case the bequest of the town moneylender to leave all her money to the three poorest individuals (who turn out to be thieves). As a vehicle of satire and social justice it is something of a blunt tool. Like its American cousins (e.g. It's a Wonderful Life), it features an angelic emissary, in this case of the Devil, but for the most part misses the lightness of tone it urgently needs (with the exception of Renzo Rossellini's impish score).
(La macchina ammazzacattivi)
Country: IT
Technical: bw 83m
Director: Roberto Rossellini
Cast: Gennaro Pisano, Marilyn Buferd, William Tubbs, Giovanni Amato
Synopsis:
In a small village on the Amalfi coast, an American family arrives so the father can revisit his wartime memories. At the same time, the local photographer discovers his camera lens has the power to remove unwanted people, even via the intermediary of their photo portrait.
Review:
Rossellini uses his central implied question ('Who decides who the bad people are?') to investigate general questions over the righting of wrongs and the redistribution of wealth, in this case the bequest of the town moneylender to leave all her money to the three poorest individuals (who turn out to be thieves). As a vehicle of satire and social justice it is something of a blunt tool. Like its American cousins (e.g. It's a Wonderful Life), it features an angelic emissary, in this case of the Devil, but for the most part misses the lightness of tone it urgently needs (with the exception of Renzo Rossellini's impish score).