Bianca (film)
Encyclopedia
Bianca is a 1984 Italian
comedy-mystery film directed by Nanni Moretti
.
. Michele is characterized by a great number of obsessions and manias (in a famous scene, he wakes up at night and starts eating Nutella
from a giant jar); he also has a habit of spying on the neighbours of his new house, keeping a file for each of them, in which he reports their actions and words.
When one of his neighbours is killed, the police inspector (Roberto Vezzosi) becomes curious about Apicella's behaviour. Later he meets his colleague Bianca (Laura Morante
), whom he falls in love with. However, his exceedingly orderly mind and manias for perfection of love prevent him from showing her his true feelings; therefore, their affair starts to suffer. Michele begins to follow her and discovers she may have another lover.
Another sub-plot is devoted to Michele's attempts to reconcile his friends Ignazio and Maria. But he fails, and the two are also found killed. Although the police now clearly suspect him, he is rescued by Bianca, who gives Michele a false alibi.
However, Michele's equilibrium at this point is completely crumbling. In the final scenes, he himself confess to the inspector that he is the murderer. In a semi-delirious and humorous self-confession (somewhat reminiscent of the last pages of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment
), Michele reveals that he felt compelled to kill his neighbours and friends because they had disappointed him, and this disturbs his need for order and steadiness in life.
), "Il cielo in una stanza" by Gino Paoli
and "Scalo a Grado
" by Franco Battiato
.
The school psychologist is played by Luigi Moretti, Nanni's father.
In the Marilyn Monroe school, the traditional portraits of the President of the Italian Republic in the rooms are replaced by that of football goalkeeper Dino Zoff
.
Cinema of Italy
The history of Italian cinema began just a few months after the Lumière brothers had patented their Cinematographe, when Pope Leo XIII was filmed for a few seconds in the act of blessing the camera.-Early years:...
comedy-mystery film directed by Nanni Moretti
Nanni Moretti
Giovanni "Nanni" Moretti is an Italian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor.-Life and work:Moretti was born in Bruneck, South Tyrol , in 1953 to parents who were teachers...
.
Plot
Michele Apicella (Nanni Moretti) is a young mathematics teacher who is called to a supposedly élite, in fact grotesque, high school with the overblown name of Marilyn MonroeMarilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
. Michele is characterized by a great number of obsessions and manias (in a famous scene, he wakes up at night and starts eating Nutella
Nutella
Nutella is the brand name of a chocolate spread. Nutella, manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero, was introduced on the market in 1963. The recipe was developed from an earlier Ferrero spread released in 1944. Nutella is now sold in over 75 countries....
from a giant jar); he also has a habit of spying on the neighbours of his new house, keeping a file for each of them, in which he reports their actions and words.
When one of his neighbours is killed, the police inspector (Roberto Vezzosi) becomes curious about Apicella's behaviour. Later he meets his colleague Bianca (Laura Morante
Laura Morante
Laura Morante is an Italian film actress.She was born in Santa Fiora, province of Grosseto , and is the niece of renowned Italian novelist Elsa Morante.-Career:...
), whom he falls in love with. However, his exceedingly orderly mind and manias for perfection of love prevent him from showing her his true feelings; therefore, their affair starts to suffer. Michele begins to follow her and discovers she may have another lover.
Another sub-plot is devoted to Michele's attempts to reconcile his friends Ignazio and Maria. But he fails, and the two are also found killed. Although the police now clearly suspect him, he is rescued by Bianca, who gives Michele a false alibi.
However, Michele's equilibrium at this point is completely crumbling. In the final scenes, he himself confess to the inspector that he is the murderer. In a semi-delirious and humorous self-confession (somewhat reminiscent of the last pages of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It was first published in the literary journal The Russian Messenger in twelve monthly installments during 1866. It was later published in a single volume. This is the second of Dostoyevsky's full-length novels following his...
), Michele reveals that he felt compelled to kill his neighbours and friends because they had disappointed him, and this disturbs his need for order and steadiness in life.
Themes in Moretti's other works
"Michele Apicella" is the nom-de-plume used by Nanni Moretti for his roles in all his films until Palombella rossa of 1989. Another recurrent theme of Moretti's film, the Sacher torte, which is also present in Bianca.Production
Songs in the film include "Insieme a te non ci sto più" (sung by Caterina CaselliCaterina Caselli
Caterina Caselli is an Italian record producer and former singer and actress.In 1966 she debuted in the Sanremo Festival with "Nessuno mi può giudicare", a song discarded by Adriano Celentano, scoring a notable success. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc...
), "Il cielo in una stanza" by Gino Paoli
Gino Paoli
Gino Paoli is an Italian singer-songwriter. He wrote four masterpieces of Italian popular music: "Il cielo in una stanza", "Che cosa c'è", "Senza fine" and "Sapore di sale".- Biography :...
and "Scalo a Grado
Grado
-Places:Italy* Grado, Friuli–Venezia Giulia, a comune in the Province of GoriziaSpain* Grado, Asturias, a municipio in the Principality of Asturias-Arts and entertainment:* Grado. Süße Nacht, a novel by Austrian playwright Gustav Ernst...
" by Franco Battiato
Franco Battiato
Francesco Battiato is an Italian singer-songwriter, composer, filmmaker and, under the pseudonym Süphan Barzani, also a painter. Battiato's songs contain esoteric, philosophical and religious themes...
.
The school psychologist is played by Luigi Moretti, Nanni's father.
In the Marilyn Monroe school, the traditional portraits of the President of the Italian Republic in the rooms are replaced by that of football goalkeeper Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff is an Italian former football goalkeeper and is the oldest winner ever of the World Cup, which he earned as captain of the Italian team in the 1982 tournament in Spain, at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days.Zoff was a goalkeeper of outstanding ability and has a place in the...
.
External links
- Bianca at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...