La Commare Secca Review
By Christopher Null
Secca is awfully rough around the edges, and viewers more accustomed to polished work like Last Tango in Paris and The Dreamers are going to have a tough time reconciling it with Bertolucci's early attempt here.
The story starts with a dead Italian prostitute. How she got that way is up for debate, as a series of characters narrates what he saw, and we witness it all in flashback. Eventually the truth (or an approximation of it) is revealed as the killer comes to light.
But while Italian cinema is historically full of passion, Secca is strangely lacking, despite its salacious premise. The prostitute (when seen alive) is hateful to the point where we root for someone to kill her. The men seem to be cardboard cut-outs with minimal emotion. Even the eventual murderer comes across as a soulless goon.
For Bertolucci fanatics, Secca will probably hold some appeal in showing off the early work of the filmmaker. (And, as it was co-written by mentor Pier Paolo Pasolini, it also indicates how a life of priviledge can ease you into the profession of movie director.) The rest of the world will do just as well skipping ahead to some of his more fully-realized work.
Aka The Grim Reaper.
Facts and Figures
Year: 1962
Reviews
Contactmusic.com: 3 / 5
Cast & Crew
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Producer: Tonino Cervi
Screenwriter: Bernardo Bertolucci, Sergio Citti, Pier Paolo Pasolini
Starring: Carlotta Barilli as Serenella, Lorenza Benedetti as Milly, Clorinda Celani as Soraya, Vincenzo Ciccora as Mayor, Alvaro D'Ercole as Francolicchio, Giancarlo De Rosa as Nino, Gabriella Giorgelli as Esperia, Romano Labate as Pipito, Silvio Laurenzi as Homosexual, Alfredo Leggi as Bostelli, Santina Lisio as Esperia's mother, Allen Midgette as Teodoro, the soldier, Ada Peragostini as Maria
Also starring: Tonino Cervi, Bernardo Bertolucci, Sergio Citti, Pier Paolo Pasolini