Film Review: Four Steps in the Clouds (4 passi fra le nuvole/The Bigamist, 1942)
Italian neorealism, a cinematic movement traditionally associated with the post-WW2 era, has its roots in earlier years. While Visconti's 1943 film, Ossessione, is often hailed as the first neorealist film, Alessandro Blasetti's 1942 drama, Four Steps in the Clouds, also known as The Bigamist, shares similar characteristics, making it a contender for this title.
The film's plot revolves around Paolo Bianchi (played by Gino Cervi), a traveling salesman who leaves his family and cramped apartment in an unnamed big city in Northern Italy every day to distribute candy samples to potential customers across the country. During one of these trips, he meets Maria (played by Adriana Benetti), a young and attractive woman, first on a train and later on a bus. Maria reveals that she is in a desperate situation - she is pregnant and has been abandoned by her lover. After losing her job in the city, she must return to her small village and her father, who would undoubtedly cast her out for dishonouring the family. As they travel together, Maria is mistaken for Paolo's wife, and she comes up with a plan: Paolo should accompany her and pretend to be her husband. Paolo, feeling pity for Maria, reluctantly agrees to take part in the ruse for a short time. However, the scheme quickly becomes complicated when he is forced to spend the night at Maria's family home, where he discovers that they have taken a liking to their new "in-law." Moreover, Paolo begins to appreciate the simple benefits of rural life, which further complicates his initial intentions.
Neorealist credentials of Four Steps in the Clouds are given by Cesare Zavattini, one of the writers, who would later become one of the most prolific authors associated with the movement. While Blasetti is usually more associated with the fascist era, during which he produced escapist entertainment, this film showcases his ability to create a neorealist work. The film shares some of the characteristics of the movement, such as the use of locations, social commentary, and a focus on the everyday struggles of ordinary people. The film's black-and-white cinematography, courtesy of Vaclav Vich, adds to the film's realism, and parts of the film were made in the famous Cinecitta studios.
Blasetti also tried to compensate for the film's seriousness and melodramatic character by adding humor, especially in the first part of the film. This sets Four Steps apart from most neorealist classics, which tend to be more serious and sombre. The film features professional actors, including Gino Cervi and Adriana Benetti, who deliver solid performances. Among the supporting cast, Giacinto Molteni stands out as Maria's eccentric grandfather.
Despite being made under the fascist regime, Four Steps in the Clouds was devoid of any politics and was, following WW2, shown internationally, where it was recognized not only as part of the neorealist movement but also as a good film. Its premise, which might not be suitable for today's films, at least those set in modern non-traditional milieus, proved very popular among filmmakers throughout the years. Four Steps was remade many times, best known in 1956 as Mario Soldati's Franco-Italian co-production The Virtuous Bigamist starring Fernandel and in 1995 as the Hollywood film A Walk in the Clouds starring Keanu Reeves.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
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