Can you guess the movie by its first and last shot?
Okay this is a hard one so click on over for the answer after the jump...
Maybe this would have been easier with the almost-last image (which is still part of the final shot) above, with gorgeous leading man Alain Delon plastered all over the street/screen. This is Luchino Visconti's family epic Rocco and His Brothers (1960) which we've covered once before for 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot' . It's streaming currently on Criterion Channel.
Why this movie today?
Well, it takes place in Milan and as you read this, picture me as Oscar-winner Katina Paxou above (of For Whom the Bell Tolls fame) being roused by slumber as I've ALSO just arrived in Milan. Yes, I'm in Italy as of this morning for a week plus vacation -- my first true vacation (not film festival) in literally 10 years. I'll be meeting up with your favourite film festival reporter Elisa today and then Luca toward the end of the vacation --squeezing in whichever Italian friends I can find! [Follow on Instagram for Italy documentation if you'd like.]