It's All About Manly Honor - Seduced and Abandoned

Filmed in 1964, made right after the classic Divorce, Italian Style, Seduced and Abandoned returns to the skewering of Sicilian life of the previous film, in a much more viscious way. This is a funny, outrageous, and crazy film that makes its almost two hour length roll right by. Peppino Califano is engaged to Matilde Ascalone, but is busy making eyes at her younger sister, Agnese. He pursues and seduces her while his fiancee is asleep, in the kitchen and then on the balcony! Agnese begins to act very strange afterwards, and her father Vincenzo (played to perfection by Saro Urzi), who keeps the entire family under his strict control, sends for a doctor, and discovers that she is no longer a virgin. Worse, tests later reveal she's pregnant. The lengths that Vincenzo goes to protect himself and his family honor are what drive the film. He astutely determines that it was Peppino who did the damage, and then directs the breakup of the engagement, putting the blame on Agnese. He connives to have the local sucidal Baron to date Mathilde, and locking Agnese in the basement, plots to have Peppino marry her. Things never work out as planned. Peppino decides that he can't marry someone who isn't a virgin (though he was the one who deflowered her!), and the two families engage in an all out battle to gain the upper hand in the matter; all while trying to keep matters as private as possible. To lose face amongst the locals means public humiliation and loss of social status. The film is filled with jabs at the family, the church, the townsfolk, marriage, and masculinity. While willingly participating in the act that leads to this mess, Agnese clearly becomes the victim and the critical focal point. Victimized by her father for maintaining social appearances, by Peppino for abandoning her, by society because they want to force marriage on her to absolve the sins of both parties. Apparently, even in the 1960's if a man seduces a minor, and they get married, he is absolved of the crime. The black and white film conveys the atmosphere of the still, hot weather and the crumbling buildings of the town, the severe blacks of the townsfolk and the women's hair and clothes. The editing is lightning quick, never dwelling too long on a particular cut or scene. The masterstoke is when all is revealed to the police and the townfolk, and the daughter, villified, is chased through the streets by the men, cutting back to her screaming in bed and forth to running in the town square, showing the insanity of the whole issue. The message is serious, but the execution is done with a precise, wicked scalpel, and you won't stop laughing. One of the best Italian movies I have ever seen; look for all of Pierto Gerni's films! Recommended!