Eboli

1979

1h 58m

Drama

List

90%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

77%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1935, Italian artist and activist Carlo Levi (Gian Maria Volonte) is exiled to the remote village of Eboli for taking a stand against Mussolini's fascist regime. Although intended as a punishment, the experience soon proves to be an uplifting one for Levi. As he uses his medical knowledge to help the local villagers (Irene Papas, Paolo Bonacelli), he finds himself inspired by their spirit and ability to maintain their values while in the depths of poverty.

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William L

Slow-paced but not lethargic, Christ Stopped at Eboli feels like a condensed odyssey - one man's journey to a deeper understanding of humanity beyond that which knowledge alone can provide. It is a clash between urban and rural, academics vs. peasants, where Volonté's Levi (a victim of state political swings) contends with the residents of an isolated village first with a sense of removed offhandedness, too polite to openly disapprove of their simplicity, superstitions, or lack of nuance. As the years progress, however, he begins to see the beauty in their less busy way of life, and their perennial suffering as unheard victims of unfeeling policymakers of the cities, in a prolonged revelation that has almost religious undertones. Highly dependent on character, Rosi and Levi himself (the film is based on a true story) craft believable personas full of details that are empathetic and entertaining in equal measure. The film takes a very humane approach to them all, addressing their conflicts without much in the way of ideological bias (apart from a critique of fascist ideology here and there, but with context identifying them as simply the current head that wear the crown). A relatively seldom-referenced but well-made and emotionally resonant piece of filmmaking that goes beyond relevance to its particular setting. If there is one piece of non-fictional information that the film has taught me, it's that Mussolini couldn't give a rousing speech quite as well as some of the other tyrants bouncing around mid-20th century Europe. And yes, that's El Indio from A Few Dollars More suffering in existential isolation! (4/5)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/07/21

Full Review

Audience Member

For director Beineix, obviously a filmmaker of literal vision if not narrative discipline, the mother/whore dichotomy becomes the embodiment of his third feature film's title character. With an indulgent running time that borders on the ridiculous- exactly three hours- one would think that Beineix could find the time to go in between or even beyond these two constructed poles of female self. Alas, no. An ace shooter he may be (Those sunsets! The way the neon reflects on the wet street!), but so too is any given male porn star. Betty Blue is content to stand back and watch as Betty herself slowly unravels in her inability to ever truly embody either the mother (someone to settle down and have children with) nor the whore (an uninhibited and insatiable sex goddess) that her committed lover wants. (She would be first the latter, then the former, natch). This not only shortchanges an entire gender (albeit one that has become all but accustomed to it), it forsakes a prime tenet of cinema. Which is, that in and around the inherent directness of the medium- a central strength, to be sure- there is the potential for subtle observations- essential grace notes that can be everything- lurking in the cracks, hovering on the fringes. Such instances are not altogether absent in Betty Blue, they're just absent completely for her. (Cue another nude scene.)

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Its the most important film I have seen. And I never would have guessed that it would be. The film takes you in, takes you down and takes you over. For me it is the essence of Italy. And the filming of this movie is a miracle. After I saw the movie I ordered the book. When I read the book I was just playing back a movie that is all poetry.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Michael L

An essential cinema experience. One of a handful of films that has a deep, personal meaning for me. Gian Maria Volontè is great, and the cinematography is quietly arresting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/20

Full Review

Audience Member

Perhaps of perfect authenticity and realism, the brief account of events is too subtle to attain its enlightenment.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Has some power. Now read the book.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

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Francesco Rosi

Director

Gian Maria Volonté

Carlo Levi

Irene Papas

Giulia Venere

Paolo Bonacelli

Don Luigi Magalone

Alain Cuny

Barone Nicola Rotunno

Lea Massari

Luisa Levi

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Carlos Valladares

San Francisco Chronicle

Each shot threatens to reduce you to tears, even when seemingly nothing is happening.

Jun 19, 2019

Full Review

Michael Sragow

Film Comment Magazine

Forty years after its premiere, American audiences can savor its earthy and transcendent glory in its full 220-minute running time...

May 10, 2019

Full Review

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

It may have taken a long time for "Christ Stopped at Eboli" to get here, but, like most great art, it speaks to our moment as well as its own.

Apr 25, 2019

Full Review

Michael Bronski

Gay Community News (Boston)

What is impressing about the film is its ability to convey the slow pace of village life without losing any of the complexity.

Sep 22, 2022

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

To watch this film is to go back in time. Politics be damned, life is where you are. Physical exile is real.

Rated: A+

Jan 13, 2021

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

testament to how, no matter how seemingly extensive the differences among us, we can always find some kind of connection

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 16, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1935, Italian artist and activist Carlo Levi (Gian Maria Volonte) is exiled to the remote village of Eboli for taking a stand against Mussolini's fascist regime. Although intended as a punishment, the experience soon proves to be an uplifting one for Levi. As he uses his medical knowledge to help the local villagers (Irene Papas, Paolo Bonacelli), he finds himself inspired by their spirit and ability to maintain their values while in the depths of poverty.

Director: Francesco Rosi
Screenwriter: Raffaele La Capria
Production Co: RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana, Action Films, Vides Cinematografica
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (DVD): Sep 23, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA): $77.9K
Runtime: 1h 58m