To me, Bread and Tulips does not seem like a road movie. Rosalba is only on the road for the first few minutes, then she finds her way to Venice and Fernando Girosole's apartment. I do think that it is, as Rascaroli's article says, a "journey....of the meaning and purpose of life." Rosalba seems to find little interest in her life at home and the thought of living in Venice offers a completely new experience. She becomes completely absorbed by the though of a change that she even goes as far as getting a job- an indication that the change might be permanent.Venice is like a whole new world to Rosalba. Everything about it is intriguing and imaginative. The camera takes you, the viewer, on your own personal tour of the city, showing you the beauty of the water and architecture. The glorified view of Venice is completely opposite to that of Pescara, Rosalba's hometown. It appears rundown, regular, and simplistic. There is no adventure or glamor to it- it is simply ordinary.
Rosalba highly enjoys Venice, but while she's there she continues to have fantasies of life back home which all result negative consequences regarding her not returning. After finally running into someone from Pescara, Rosabla realizes that it is time to return home. However, she is unsatisfied with her normal life as a housewife, and after seeing Fernando and her friends from Venice, chooses to go back.
The one thing I noticed about this movie was that no one really seemed to care that Rosalba left her husband, not even her children. I think this is because the husband was portrayed as a negative character and was not given any qualities that would allow him to appeal to the viewer. In contrast, Fernando is given to the audience as a kind man who was saved by this strange woman from the streets. I myself was even rooting for him to get the girl. ( I had watched many movies this weekend which I though were romance, but they were LIES!!!!) I was very satisfied to finally watch a movie with a happy ending.
I love the screenshots you included.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you about her journey in Venice and how differently it was portrayed from her home. As soon as she arrived it seemed like she felt at home in a grand, adventurous city so different from the average, boring Pescara.
I wouldn't necessarily say that Rosalba's husband wasn't given any redeeming qualities that the viewer could sympathize with, but of course they are a bit layered. I think the fact that after his mistress claimed she would not iron his shirts there is a shot of him just sitting on the bed and he doesn't seem so much frustrated as unhappy. That shot says that he cares for an idea of Rosalba, a simple nurturing factor that she happens to be connected with. Also I think the fact that he would pay money (however cheaply) to have someone go after her shows a sense of reminiscence that is connected with her, even though he is a schmuck.
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