Theorem [Teorema] ***½ (1968, Silvana Mangano, Terence Stamp, Massimo Girotti, Laura Betti, Anne Wiazemsky, Ninetto Davoli) – Classic Movie Review 2269

Director Pier Paolo Pasolini casts young Terence Stamp effectively as a good-looking stranger who satisfies all the members of a wealthy Milan family in his gently satisfying and intriguing 1968 poetic drama Theorem [Teorema].

The Visitor seduces the Emilia the servant (Laura Betti), Pietro the son (Andrés José Cruz Soublette), Lucia the mother (Silvana Mangano), Odetta the daughter (Anne Wiazemsky) and finally Paolo the father (Massimo Girotti) before leaving a few days after. 

When he goes, they are left in despair and none of them can continue living as before. The question is, is The Visitor an angel or a devil, or both? Is he a god or does he represent pure love? Anyway, the film is Pasolini’s 1968 youth revolutionary year message about the power of hippy love over capitalist wealth.

For once, the advertising is very factual and helpful: ‘There are only 923 words spoken in Teorema but it says everything’. With his virtually wordless screenplay adapting his own novel, Pasolini makes sure his story is a well told, entertaining and accessible parable, though it is slightly marred by being not particularly illuminating.

Perhaps there are just not enough surprises or ambiguities. You expect a Pasolini movie to be a tiny bit cleverer, more poetic, more obscure and maybe just plain impenetrable, not to say more dangerous. But this is brisk, amusing and straightforward, with the tantalising meaning of the film providing light food for thought and discussion.

Despite having a supporting role, Laura Betti won the Best Actress prize at the Venice Film Festival in 1968 for her part as the maid. Pasolini favourite Ninetto Davoli plays Angelino the Messenger.

The 1971 cinema release is cut to 99 minutes from the original 105 minutes.

Stamp says he made Theorem because he bumped into childhood crush Silvana Mangano, whom he had seen in the Neo-Realist classic Bitter Rice, on a Rome street (‘I couldn’t believe she was there in the flesh’) and she suggested him for the role. ‘Pasolini told me: “A stranger arrives, makes love to everybody, and leaves. This is your part.” I said: “I can do that!”‘ Unfortunately, he adds, ‘Pasolini didn’t talk to me’.

Anne Wiazemsky was the muse and wife of Jean-Luc Godard.

Anne Wiazemsky died of breast cancer on 5 October 2017, aged 70. She was the muse and wife of Jean-Luc Godard, and they made La Chinoise together.

Pier Paolo Pasolini centenary 05/03/2022

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2269

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