Il sole anche di notte

This is a beautiful, profound movie. It is based on a novel by Dostoievsky, which ads an existential dimension to the craft of the Taviani brothers.

The struggle of the lead character to extract himself from all human attachments is fascinating - and his ultimate failure should give some thoughts to a lot of self-proclaimed spiritual schools, from the Vatican to the Dalai Lama.

While this is a history piece, this movie retains the neo-realism style of some other works like "Padre, Padrone" mixed with a touch of surrealism as in "Kaos".

The Taviani brothers at their very best. One can only wish they had remained so inspired!

Beautiful, spiritual and thought provoking film about a heart-broken man who decides to seclude himself in a mountain. I consider it the best by the directors. It might make you think of how the "miracle" is conceived in our mind from witnessing a super-human power of will, and how the legend of a saint may arise.

(1990) Night Sun/ Il sole anche di notte (In Italian with English subtitles) PERIOD PIECE DRAMA/ SEMI AUTO BIOGRAPHY

Gorgeous country side with story adapted from the book "The Sun Also Shines at Night" by Leo Tolstory, written and directed by Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani, centering on an ordinary soldier, Sergio Giuramondo (Julian Sands) to a life of monastery living as a hermit, and his effect on other people- almost like a semi-auto biography. Requires patient viewing with a subtle story line, and interesting historical Italian references, topping it off with gorgeous picturesque countryside.

As I have tried to express my deep love for Taviani films before, I will not start that again. But boy is this film a marvel !!

Overwhelming photography, getting wider and wider where the protagonist tries to get further away from each and everyone. To find the temptation which will finally get him down from his pedestal (= his pride) in the renovated shack that was once his hermit cell.

The story is gripping and a true marvel, the pace elaborate (NOT slow, definitely not slow !!) and thoughtful.

And the actors ! What performances !! Where to start ? With Julian Sands of course, who is glorious even when he is not allowed to use his own voice. And the women in his life !! Just like that other bearded miracle worker, Father Sergio has 4. A mother and 3 ladies. (but then I'd forget his sister, and that would be very ungrateful...) Superb performances by all of them, and each and every other cast member.

Let's pray for another miracle: Let's sincerely hope Maestro Paolo and Maestro Vittorio make some dozen more of their sublime storytelling films...

great film. it is based on Tolstoy's novel, but when I first saw it I did not know that. I just felt there was something from Russia, maybe the enthusiasm under silence. Sergio, a nobleman with strong self-respect and vanity, found his fiancée used to be a mistress of his duke, he felt deeply hurt and betrayed, and he became a friar. after many years, he was known as a sage, but all faded out when a innocent girl was taken to him. though a Italian film, but the directors express in the most appropriate way the thought of religion and life. They added details like the pear tree at the intersection, applied to the hero's feeling and very lyric. I also very appreciate the scene when Sergio knew the truth of his fiancée, nothing was told, the hero just saw her stood in dark. nothing need to be told.