The Hawks and the Sparrows (Uccellacci e uccellini)
Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini
Written by Pier Paolo Palolini and Dante Ferretti
1966/Italy
Arco Film
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] [on atheism] If you know that I am an unbeliever, then you know me better than I do myself. I may be an unbeliever, but I am an unbeliever who has a nostalgia for a belief. (1966) – Pier Paolo Pasolini[/box]
Pasolini shows his whimsical side in this biting satire of class struggle and religious conflict.
Innocenti Toto (Toto) and Innocenti Ninetto (Ninetto Davoli) are two bums wandering around the backroads of Italy as their hunger pangs increase. They meet up with a Marxist crow who passes the time by telling them a fable.
In medieval times, two monks (also portrayed by Toto and Davoli) are sent by God on missions to convert the hawks and the sparrows. Will success make friends of the two enemies?
Toto is a classic clown and this is an amusing film. Love the ending! Ennio Morricone’s fun score sounds a lot like surfing music and works amazingly well.
