Francesco Rosi's "Tre fratelli" looks at three brothers who return to their childhood home after their mother dies. The movie goes into a study of the dissimilar paths that their lives have taken them. Raffaele (Philippe Noiret) is a judge prosecuting individuals charged with terrorism; Nicola (Michele Placido) is a union leader who supports the people targeted by Raffaele; and Rocco (Vittorio Mezzogiorno) works in a correctional institute for boys. But even beyond the different paths that the brothers' lives have taken them, the movie looks at their relationship (or lack thereof) with their father (Charles Vanel). It turns out that only the granddaughter is truly able to bond with the patriarch.
The movie is almost mystifying in its focus on this family. Raffaele's dream brings up the issue of what constitutes terrorism. But in the end, all sides are forced to recognize that they are still a family. The granddaughter seems to represent the innocence that the brothers were forced to abandon as they went their separate ways in life. The end result is a very thought-provoking movie, definitely one that I recommend.
The movie is almost mystifying in its focus on this family. Raffaele's dream brings up the issue of what constitutes terrorism. But in the end, all sides are forced to recognize that they are still a family. The granddaughter seems to represent the innocence that the brothers were forced to abandon as they went their separate ways in life. The end result is a very thought-provoking movie, definitely one that I recommend.