Gloria Monti requests:





>         I could use some more suggestions for my syllabus -- and

> thanks to those who e-mailed me with titles covering the 30s-40s-50s.

> I decided on the segment in *Ba wang bie ji/Farewell My Concubine*

> (1993), Chen Kaige, China that covers the three decades.

>         I am looking for a 1950s film (possibly non European) that

> was influenced by Italian Neorealism.  The other one I am showing

> under this rubric is Pather Panchali (1955), Satyajit Ray, India.

>         I am aware of the debate concerning the imposing of Western

> cultural values, such as a neorealist aesthetic,  on Third Cinema and

> the inevitable distortions of a Eurocentric reading of Third Cinema

> (Armes).



As you know, many filmmakers have claimed at least indirect influence

by Neorealism.  One film that's much later historically than you are

looking for (but still "early" in sub-Saharan cinema) is Sembene's

MANDABI (THE MONEY ORDER), 1968.  It has much in common with

neo-realism (non-professional actors, location sets, and a more overtly

didactic political message than in DeSica/Zavattini's films) and it is

one of the most accessible of Sembene's films for Westerners--it's also

a funny satire of bureaucracy and corruption.



Don Larsson





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Donald F. Larsson, English Department, AH 230

Minnesota State University

Mankato, MN  56001



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