If I had to choose 3 poignant scenes from L'America these are the scenes that captivated my attention:
Scene 1: The last scene of the movie--Spiro and Gino are on the boat headed to Italy
Analysis: It stuck in my mind because the scene is an excellent example of juxtaposition. The writers and directors purposefully put both characters in the scene together to show a distinct difference in their character. While Gino is dejected and deflated from his arduous journey through Albania, Spiro is filled with a buoyant hope for a better life in America (even though the ship is headed to Italy). I think this scene was important to the movie because it not only brought the conclusion of the film, but it also marked the end of Gino's eye opening experience through Albania.
Scene 2: Spiro is no longer the director and encourages Gino after he loses his position as well
Analysis: This scene shows Spiro's relentless hope. Throughout the movie the script and the directors work to show the lack of Albanian nationalism and their faith in Italy, but they also strive to show Spiro's unconditional faith. While imprisoned the guard said that he continued week after week to walk out to the gates with the belief that he was going home. I believe that portraying Spiro in this way is essential to the movie because it adds to the irony that he is in fact not Albanian, but also that he embodies a characteristic most of the Albanians in the movie share. He is their hope personified,
Scene 3: Gino is arrested by the Albanian police and his pass port is taken
Analysis: Throughout the movie Gino is a visitor in Albania, but his respect and treatment of the people and culture is lacking. He parades around the country with a arrogance courtesy of his Italian citizenship. It is almost as if because he is Italian the laws and standards do not apply to him. This all comes to a crashing halt when he is arrested for his involvement in the shady business venture. His passport is confiscated and he wants to know how he will get around with out his passport and the response from the Albanian officer is basically if you are in Albania you don't need one. This scene is important to the movie because the passport is Gino's only proof of his Italian citizenship. It also the only way he can legally travel back to Italy. This in turn is how he ends up on the immigrant ship to Italy at the end of the movie
If I could have he directors power and end the movie anyway I would like, I would have preferred a happier ending for Spiro. I would have maybe taken the "sappy approach" by showing him reunited with his wife or son.
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3 comments:
Hi, Leslie. I concur with your sappy ending commentary. As the movie was nearing its conclusion, I kept thinking to myself, "Why can't Gino take the old man to Sicily?"
Nice post, Leslie. I, too, wanted a happy ending for Spiro. It would have been nice to at least see the ship docking in Italy as teh credits rolled!
Very nice structuring and scene selection!
"He parades around the country with a arrogance..."
Yeah, and it's misplaced as the movie wants us to see. I've noticed this human behavior in a variety of situations, like when someone thinks they're smarter than someone else, her/his arrogance, or air of superiority, makes she/he blind to the reality that it is she/he who is not as smart. (Yikes, is this coherent?) Or on the TV show "Survivor" when a player or players get cocky and comfortable thinking they're better than the other person or team, then the cocky player(s) almost always get batted down in the next challenge.
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