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The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (Il Giardino dei Finzi-Contini) (1970)

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Average Rating: 8.1/10
Reviews Counted: 13
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 0

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User Ratings: 1,250

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Movie Info

Vittorio De Sica directs the lyrical war drama Il Giardino dei Finzi-Contini (The Garden of the Finzi-Continis), based on a book by Giorgio Bassani. In Ferrara, Italy, at the beginning of WWII, anti-Semitism is spreading. Mussolini has passed several laws that forbid Jews from going to public schools, joining the army, or marrying non-Jews. While many middle-class Jewish families flee the country, the Finzi-Continis believe it's safe inside their sprawling estate. As a wealthy, aristocratic

R, 2 hr.

Art House & International, Drama

Directed By: Vittorio De Sica

In Theaters: Dec 4, 1970 Wide

On DVD: Jun 19, 2001

Cast

Dominique Sanda
Micol
Lino Capolicchio
Giorgio
Helmut Berger
Alberto
Fabio Testi
Malnate
Romolo Valli
Giorgio's Father
Camillo Cesarei
Inna Alexeiff
Micol's Grandmother
Camillo Angelini-Rota
Prof. Ermanno Finzi-Con...
Cinzia Bruno
Alessandro D'Alatri
Marcella Gentile
Ettore Geri
Barbara Pilavin Gelber
Katina Viglietti
Olga Finzi-Contini
Raffaele Curi
Ernesto

Critic Reviews for The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (Il Giardino dei Finzi-Contini)

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (0) | DVD (7)

For its story moment before the gathering storm broke, this film is a garden wall held up, a finger in the dyke, just before the deluge and fall into darkness.

February 5, 2011 Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews

| Comment

Donald J. Levit

ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Splendidly recreated, Vittorio De Sica's elegantly painful and eloquently tragic tribute to the demise of the Jewish aristocracy in Italy in WWII deservedly won the best foreign-language Oscar in 1971.

June 17, 2005 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

a highly effective piece of work by an always interesting and thoughtful filmmaker

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: culturevulture.net

| Comment

Arthur Lazere

culturevulture.net

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Audience Reviews for The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (Il Giardino dei Finzi-Contini)

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There's so much going on in this film, from the symbolism of the garden to the relationship between Micol and Giorgio. It definitely deserves more than one viewing and just goes to demonstrate how great Italian cinema is.

November 26, 2009

Wildaly M.

Super Reviewer

Each country has their WWII legacy, but the Italian auteurs transform their collective experience into cinematic political testaments. In the Finzi-Contini passover scene, Alberto's presentiment about the war is that the 'good' side will win. The irony, reality, and horror is that any faction, be it Fascism, Nazism,

January 13, 2010