MovieChat Forums > Giù la testa (1972) Discussion > What an incredibly misinterpreted, misun...

What an incredibly misinterpreted, misunderstood and overlooked film

posted 16 years ago by korn12788
20 replies | jump to latest

I see people on here suggesting that this film is anti-revolutionary, anti-change and that its message states that people just keep to themselves. This was apparently also the initial reaction from film critics. What's really being said is a critique of revolutions from the left, as not being authentically populist or pro-poor enough, and are too often an excuse for people to seize power without actually believing in helping the poor. The film, in effect, criticizes Maoism from the left, suggesting that violence of the sort he propsed inevitably begets more violence, and the revolution and change must come through peace and friendship, as well as personal change and character reform, like that undergone by Juan, rather than generals and guns. Its sympathies obviously lie with the revolutionaries, and the army are clearly an allegory for the Italian fascists and the Nazis, under whose rise Leone spent his formative years. Even the very first scene of the film shows how the rich really do despise the poor, including members of the clergy, and we're obiviously meant to hold these carriage riders in contempt. This is one of the most left-wing films I've ever seen, critiquing Maoism and other authoritarian revolutionaries for not being sincere enough about making the world better. I think an appropriate analogy would be Martin Luther King talking with Malcolm X, contemplating whether violence can ever bring about true change and peace. Utterly brilliant.

[–] DrLenera 16 years ago

I agree 100% with what you say!

[–] lostinaction 16 years ago

I love this movie too. Totaly underrated and missunderstood. A masterpiece of Sergio Leone.

"Well, nobody's perfect."

[–] shaggy61 16 years ago

A lot of the misinterpretation comes from Leone scholar Christopher Freyling, who does the voice-over commentary on the DVD. Freyling gets that Leone is critiquing revolution from the left, but he goes overboard in saying Leone reflected the "keep your head down" philosophy of staying out of politics. Leone would never advocate sticking your head in the sand. He may have been warning radicals of the day that revolution comes with a lot of pain, but if he were so counter-revolutionary he would have made the fascists the heroes.
"Keep your head down" is the Italian title but it's meant with a certain amount of irony. At the end when Juan asks "what about me?" and the title "Duck You Sucker" flashes on the screen, we're not supposed to think his getting in involved in the revolution was a huge mistake. It brought him misery but it's a far, far better thing to do than before, as a lowly bandit who killed, raped, and robbed, not to mention exploited his kids, for purely selfish reasons. It's not all about him anymore, he's part of a bigger movement.
I'm a bit skeptical of the story Freyling tells, in which someone at a French restaurant presented Leone with a bottle of fancy champagne, thanking him because the Frenchman's two sons gave up radical causes after seeing the movie, and Leone was supposedly very proud of that. It's like being thanked by the rich snobs at the film's beginning.

[–] dementia13 13 years ago

Film critics are often poor thinkers. It seems shortsighted that Freyling would feel that his interpretation of the ending outweighs the bigger picture, in which Juan transforms from a common bandit into a revolutionary hero. As Juan cannot see the title, one would assume that the title is directed at the viewer, not at Juan. This would be more consistent with the way the phrase is used throughout the film, as a kind of code phrase that protects the principals from the damage that's being inflicted on their enemies. When someone says "Duck, you sucker!" in the film, it foreshadows conflict, it's not a warning to avoid conflict. Flashing it across the screen is more likely a message to the viewer that the revolution is coming to their town next, and that it's time to choose sides.
I agree that Freyling's story is dubious. Maybe Leone didn't understand French but was acting gracious toward the gift. Possibly, he was acquainted with the Frenchman's sons, and knew them as useless no-accounts who he was happy not to have around. Or maybe it never happened at all. I'm not buying it.

[–] woollybully07 11 years ago

leone was fluent in french. thats how he and eli wallach communicated throughout all TGTBATU.

[–] spira84 16 years ago

korn, i don't like to see this movie as anti-revolutionary. but what do you have to say about the "duck you sucker" part, in the end? it seems to some people that the movie is telling him to stay out of the revolution. I don't think that's the meaning, even though i don't know what is it heheh

"Oh! there're frogs falling from the sky!"
Magnolia - 10/10

[–] OK_Firecracker 16 years ago

I agree with you. This is my second favorite Leone film ( The first being TGTBATU). I think this film isn't given enough credit; it is a tragic masterpiece.

---We May Be Through With The Past, But The Past Isn't Through Us---

[–] ivyarrived 16 years ago

I had a complete different take on the film. I haven't seen anyone quite this stylish as James Coburn in a movie..with the exception of Gaspard in Hannibal Rising..those stylish terrorist. Hats alone just sizzle on the screen along with that distinguishing silver hair of Coburn's. He's so HAUT!

This movie on one hand was a man's man movie full of war, explosions and violence and yet there was this certain sincerity of the love between Sean and Jaun..right up to the end. Maybe in the remake (as if) it could be a gay romance. Perhaps its those very long scenes that pause way too much. Honestly, though, I felt the director caught a glimpse of what war does and its something thats not going away.

[–] spira84 15 years ago

Maybe in the remake (as if) it could be a gay romance......... NOT!

"Oh! there're frogs falling from the sky!"
Magnolia - 10/10

[–] worldofsnail 8 years ago

If the long looks John was giving Juan were interpreted as something 'gay',then the world has lost its soul.

[–] marcigabrielle 15 years ago

This is one of those films that (unfortunately) happen to be too intelligent for most viewers.

---
Space For Sale.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] csu16387 15 years ago

Well said... the film's statements are very timely also (sadly, in a lot of ways).

"Now what kind of man are YOU dude?"

[–] Trouter2000 15 years ago

Excellent critique

[–] Pharaoh-in-de-Nile 12 years ago

I think Korn is somewhat right, however, I'd say it is more compatible with Maoism than being a critique of it (though it is a leftist critique of the left) in that its main theme seems not to be so much about "authoritarian revolutionaries" being insincere but behind the idea that a revolution should not be lead merely by intellectuals but should involve the poor; a protracted people's war (a major tenet of Maoism).

Leone wasn't to my knowledge an open Maoist (unlike some of his friends, acquaintances and colleagues) however he did reference Maoism on various occasions in his films; most notably the visual quote of "power coming from the barrel of a gun" in 'Once Upon A Time In The West' in a the transition from Frank's gun to the locomotive near the beginning of the film.

And of course there is a quote from Mao at the beginning of this very film; one that is, in point of fact, supported by the themes of the film. And this is another point; revolutions aren't exactly fun and games.

"The revolution is not a social dinner, a literary event, a drawing or an embroidery; it cannot be done with elegance and courtesy. The revolution is an act of violence." - Mao Tse-Tung

"The game's afoot!"