Watch La commare secca

La commare secca (The Grim Reaper) is a 1962 Italian crime thriller directed by Bernardo Bertolucci in his directorial debut. The movie is based on a story by Pier Paolo Pasolini and centers around a murder investigation in Rome. It is considered as one of the precursors of the Italian Neo-Realist movement in cinema. The movie features an ensemble cast, which includes both professional and non-professional actors. Francesco Ruiu plays Nico, the lead character who is a former soldier and a suspect in the murder investigation. Giancarlo De Rosa plays Furio, another suspect who is a mechanic with a dark past. Vincenzo Ciccora plays Giuseppe, the victim who is found dead in a park.

The movie opens with a scene of Giuseppe's dead body being discovered in a park. The police start their investigation and soon they begin to question the suspects. The narrative then unfolds in a series of flashbacks that reveal the events leading up to the murder.

As the investigation progresses, the suspects are revealed to have a connection to each other, and the narrative becomes darker and more complex. The flashbacks reveal the motive for the murder, and the movie moves towards a tense and violent conclusion.

La commare secca is notable for its realism and its use of non-professional actors. The movie was filmed on location in Rome, and the city becomes a character in its own right. The movie portrays the gritty, urban reality of Rome in the early 1960s, and this authenticity adds to the tension and drama of the story.

The cinematography of the movie is also worth mentioning. The movie features some impressive tracking shots that follow the characters through the streets of Rome. The use of natural lighting and the stark black and white photography add to the movie's realism and intensity.

The movie explores themes of morality, guilt, and redemption. The characters are all flawed in some way, and their pasts come back to haunt them. The movie suggests that the characters are all victims of their circumstances, and that their actions are a result of their environment.

Overall, La commare secca is a powerful and intense crime thriller that is notable for its realism, its use of non-professional actors, and its exploration of complex moral issues. The movie is a must-watch for fans of Italian cinema and for anyone interested in the evolution of the crime thriller genre.