Arnon Grunberg

Eye

Solemnity

Tonight I saw ‘Senilità’ (careless) directed by Mauro Bolognini based on a novel by Italo Svevo in Moma.

Janet Maslin was critical back in 1982 in NYT:

'''CARELESS'' is a 1962 film by Mauro Bolognini that is only now being released, at the Public Theater. Why? ''Careless'' isn't up to the high standard of that theater's other revivals. Even by comparison to Mr. Bolognini's other works, this one is ponderous and disappointing.

Mr. Bolognini is the director of ''Il Bell'Antonio,'' ''La Viaccia,'' ''La Notte Brava,'' and, most recently and drearily, ''The Inheritance'' and ''La Grande Bourgeoise.'' In ''Careless,'' he demonstrates a good eye and a characteristically smothering solemnity, but not much more.

The film stars Anthony Franciosa as a brooding young romantic and Claudia Cardinale as a supposedly virginal young maid of the flapper era. Mr. Franciosa speaks Italian much more convincingly than Miss Cardinale feigns innocence.

''Careless'' is based on Italo Svevo's novel ''Senilita.'' The film is a stilted tale of love and deception, as the young man pursues a voluptuous siren whose character seems more and more questionable as the drama progresses.'

Read the article here.

The movie is as Mr. Svevo's books also an ode to Trieste.

And the movie is more Proustian than Maslin is willing to admit. The heart of love is jealousy, it's its motor, that this jealousy is doomed doesn't need much explanation.

Svevo is all about desire and fulfillment, his characters sabotage their own desire. So does Emilio Brentani (Anthony Franciosa). He is looking for rejection, he is just not willing to admit it.

discuss on facebook