THE HAWKS AND THE SPARROWS (Uccellacci e Uccellini) (1966) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Pier Paolo Pasolini

Written by - Dante Ferretti, Pier Paolo Pasolini

Starring - Totò, Ninetto Davoli

"Brilliant, poetic and downright funny. In fact, THE HAWKS AND THE SPARROWS may be PASOLINI's funniest movie ever. 

In this film, he follows an almost metaphysical journey undertaken by a farming father and his inept son. Along the way, they encounter a "Marxist" crow and a number of events that flirt with political, religious and ethical themes of all kinds. 

Indeed, a number of factors are to be taken into consideration when dealing with works by PASOLINI - not least of all his interest in his mythical, religious and cultural influences that would often leave an imprint in his essentially humanist depictions. Nevertheless, here he makes use of satire and comedy more so than in any of his works - ones that came before and others that would follow. 

Which explains his choice to cast famed Italian cinematic clown TOTO, in a rare appearence in arthouse cinema, who reveals a sensibility and depth within the PIER PAOLO PASOLINI's thought provoking concept that its both surprising and absolutely terrific in a tastefully restrained performance, in which he even gave up his renowned improv skills to follow the prose lingo of his filmmaker."

Comedy, Italy