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Besieged
Original Title
Assédio- Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
- Writer: Clare Peploe; Bernardo Bertolucci
- Producer: Massimo Cortesi; Clare Peploe
CGiii Comment
Little dialogue and too much piano music - which sounds, mostly, like an epileptic dirge.
It is beautifully shot and that is the only good thing that can be said about this trivial and pondering film.
A minor gay character infuses nothing into the momentum - simply, because there is no momentum.
And, it really does have a terrible ending.
Another Bertolucci dud - but, surely, there must be those who appreciate this maestro's efforts?
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
When an African dictator jails her husband, Shandurai goes into exile in Italy, studying medicine and keeping house for Mr. Kinsky, an eccentric English pianist and composer. She lives in one room of his Roman palazzo. He besieges her with flowers, gifts, and music, declaring passionately that he loves her, would go to Africa with her, would do anything for her. "What do you know of Africa?," she asks, then, in anguish, shouts, "Get my husband out of jail!" The rest of the film plays out the implications of this scene and leaves Shandurai with a choice.
Cast & Characters
Thandie Newton as Shandurai;
David Thewlis as Jason Kinsky;
Claudio Santamaria as Agostino;
John C. Ojwang as Singer;
Massimo De Rossi as Patient;
Cyril Nri as Priest; Paul Osul as Piano Buyer;
Veronica Lazar as Piano Buyer;
Gian Franco Mazzoni as Piano Buyer;
Maria Mazetti Di Pietralata as Piano Buyer;
Andrea Quercia as Child pianist at concert;
Alexander Menis as Child at concert;
Natalia Mignosa as Child at concert;
Lorenzo Mollica as Child at concert;
Elena Perino as Child at concert