• Release year: 1963
• Director: Ermanno Olmi.
• Producer: Goffredo Lombardo.
• Screenplay by: Ermanno Olmi.
• Cinematography by: Lamberto Caimi.
• Music by: Gianni Ferrio.

Shotgun Commentary: catnip for angst lovers.

Review

I Fidanzati tells the story of a couple that is separated when the man has to leave the city where they live for a job with better pay. His fiancée hangs back until he comes back or establishes himself in his new workplace.

Contrary to Il Posto (1961), this film doesn’t follow a boy from a village going to a big city, but rather a man from a big city that moves to a more rural area. While the premise of “guy gets a job and his lifestyle changes” is the same, both the age and the direction of the geographical shift play key roles in differentiating one film from another.

Starting from scratch

The protagonist of this story, Giovanni (Carlo Cabrini), moves to Sicily from Milan and, while it is often said that it is hard for people from a town to get used to a big city, the opposite is usually also true. Especially because, while the environment plays an important part in your quality of life, lacking a community or support system is always hard. You see Giovanni struggle to fall into step with his co-workers and spend most of his time alone, an experience that will resonate with anyone who has ever emigrated.

Luckily, the film also follows the natural development of this situation, which is that the more often you stay somewhere, the more moments of happiness and connection you will experience. Giovanni goes to the village carnival, jokes around with his neighbours, and even seems to be making some connections at work. Still, the melancholia that bathes the whole narrative remains like a gloomy shadow in his life. He is lacking the love of his life in that new…well, life. Or is he?

A love story…?

Here lies the main, and arguably only, big issue of the film. The couple is supposed to be very much in love, yet none of this can be seen other than through words. At the beginning of the film, Giovanni’s fiancée Liliana (Ann Canzi) is understandably angry with him as he accepted the job offer without even consulting her.

However, all of their flashbacks show an passionless relationship in rapid decline. Sure, there are a few romantic moments here and there, but it is mostly just the two of them sharing the same air while looking incredibly unamused.

Pure nonsense

This depressing relationship is coherent with their discovery of how writing their thoughts and feelings towards each other is actually making them truly see each other and be together. However, it goes against the premise and against the most basic decision they make. Why would a couple who barely know anything about each other want to get married? Why would they stay together even after the man moves away?

Unless they are desperate to get married, which would make sense only for the girl considering the story happens in the 60s. Giovanni has no reason to want to stay with Liliana, at least, none that we can see. It might be the groundbreaking portrayal of a really dull couple that is more than happy being just that, but sadly it doesn’t quite translate properly on screen.

All in all, I Fidanzati is a great portrayal of the immigrant experience. While it is best not to dwell much on each moment, the overall viewing is quite enjoyable, especially for audiences who enjoy dramas and melancholic subjects. It might not be as riveting as Il Posto, but if you liked that film, chances are, you will like this one too.

Radiance Films released this Monday a 4K restoration of I Fidanzati in Blu-ray along with a 4K restoration of Olmi’s Il Posto. Further details of the release below:

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• 4K restoration of both films from the original camera negatives by Cineteca di Bologna in collaboration with Titanus, presented on two discs
• Uncompressed mono PCM audio for both films
• Appreciation by filmmaker Maurizio Zaccaro (2024, 19 mins)
• Interview with cinematographer Lamberto Caimi on both films (2024, 17 and 11 mins)
• Interview with author Richard Dyer on both films (2024, 39, 23 mins)
• Interview with programmer Ehsan Khoshbakht on Ermanno Olmi (2024, 16 mins)
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista
• Limited edition booklet with new writing by critic Christina Newland
• Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

Find the Radiance release right here!

Advice to take from this movie:

• If your relationship isn’t working, it might be time to let go.
• Don’t be fooled, long distance relationships don’t make relationships stronger. Never have, never will.
• If your partner takes a job offer in a different city without even consulting you, it might be time to let go.

What’s your take? Have you watched I Fidanzati? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀