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'What happened to the man who was shot...?'

posted 20 years ago by BlueGreen
9 replies | jump to latest

That's what Mrs. Johnson (De Havilland) asks Naccarelli (Brazzi) at the very end of the film, after their children's wedding. She is referring, of course, to the man who was shot at the historic "calcio" game (where, BTW, we also see a supposed relative of the Naccarellis, the "marchese" of... well, something). To which Naccarelli replies, quite nonchalantly: "He died... Why?"

Now, I've seen this movie almost every time it was on TCM - but the meaning of this reference escapes me. Any ideas, anyone?

[–] Doylenf 20 years ago

This remark was too subtle for me. I always wondered exactly what the author had in mind when this incident was referenced. Brazzi answers her in a very nonchalant way. Is it that Italians take very lightly the matters of life and death??? I hope somebody can answer this.

[–] itsmeladyp 20 years ago

I just watched this movie again yesterday. It was part of the Mother's Day salute on TCM (where else?).

Mrs. Johnson would have told Signor Naccarelli about Clara's accident that day if the man had not been shot. She started to, but was interrupted. The idea being, "I wonder what would have happened if the circumstances had been different, that man had not be shot, and I had told Signor Naccarelli?" That leads into "I wonder what happened to the man?" If you want to get all mushy and philosophical say, "He died and Clara got a second chance at life." ... so did Mrs. Johnson for that matter ... typed Naccarelli the first time ... where is Freud when you need him!

However, Signor Naccarelli knows about Clara's accident by the end of the film, before the marriage, so in a way, we do know.

Just a note, this time I watched the film with my Mother. When Mrs. Johnson picks up the phone and calls the travel agency and books passage for two to Florence my Mother let out something very close to a "You, Go Girl!" I love my Mother!!!! (even more than OdeH in Dior!!! and THAT is saying something)

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] BlueGreen 19 years ago

When you put it that way... yes, it does start to make some sense..:)
Thanks!

[–] Gangsteroctopus 17 years ago

I think your interpretation of the "What happened to the man who was shot?" remark is slightly off, itsmeladyp, or perhaps I am mistaking your meaning.

I think, in fact, that Rossana Brazzi's knowledge of Yvette Mimieux's accident is indicated by this very remark - Olivia de Havilland is about to tell him about her daughter's condition there at the match when they are interrupted by the incident with the cannon. It's subtly indicated that Brazzi does not, in fact, know the man who was killed - thus his nonchalance later about the incident, which causes de Havilland to realize that he's known all along what she was going to tell him that day and that it doesn't matter to him. (Note how her immediate reaction to this revelation is, "I knew I did the right thing.")

Now, to pose another question, does anyone else think that after the film's conclusion de Havilland stays there in Florence to become Brazzi's mistress (as well as to stay close to her daughter)?

[–] BlueGreen 17 years ago

I understand the possible role of Naccarelli's "nonchalance" - but what led Mrs. Johnson to ask that question in the first place? Merely the memory of that moment when she wanted to tell the truth but was interrupted? What is the intent behind that? (I am asking because it's a film, obviously - meaning that films are supposed to present us with all the motives etc. of the characters - as opposed to real life. ;))

As to your question, Gangsteroctopus: no, I don't think so. I don't think she stayed in Florence.
In real life, it could have happened, I suppose. But not in this film.
I think Mrs. Johnson was being quite honest when she said: "Like Clara, I, too, have been brought up very carefully"...
(And let's not forget the inimitable closure to this particular piece of dialogue, when she replies to Naccarelli's disappointed: "I am sorry to hear that", with: "There are times when I have my regrets, too..." ;)

[–] schappe1 13 years ago

...it's still a weird note to end the film on. He died- and we have a happy ending.

The past is a series of presents. The present is living history we are privileged to witness

[–] BlueGreen 12 years ago

...it's still a weird note to end the film on. He died- and we have a ahppy ending.

Yes, I thought so myself. :))

[–] romarub 8 years ago

I am also puzzled by the reference to the man who was shot at the end of the film. Brazzi was about to be told the problem Mimeux had when the man was shot and Brazzi said he knew the man and left, and didn't get the explanation from de Havilland at that time. I don't know when he could have learned about Mimeux's problem prior to that point.

But Brazzi's nonchalant explanation that the man had died, made at the end of the film, obviously carries some symbolic meaning, but its meaning is uncertain. It seems possible that the death of the man signified mortality, in general, and that de Havilland thanked herself at the end of the film for making the right decision because agreeing to the marriage allowed her daughter to experience some of the normalcy of life and of living that her condition would have otherwise denied her from ever experiencing.