A failure in resilience: The corrupting influence of postwar Milan in Visconti’s Rocco and His Brothers

Abstract The 1960 Italian film Rocco and His Brothers (Rocco e i suoi Fratelli) is one of the greatest exemplars post-war cinema. depicts disintegration deterritorialization an immigrant family from Lucania, a southern village in Basilicata, their relocation to Milan. director film, Luchino Visconti, continuously alludes protagonist’s fascination with hometown (paese). This nostalgic wholesome image paese contrasts ubiquitous alienation exploitation industrial North. replete signs metaphors which explicitly implicitly reinforce evident tension between industrialized metropolis. Based on interview Mario Licari, Visconti’s assistant who accompanied him location visits, this article offers opportunity revisit significant locations such as Quartiere Fabio Filzi, Alfa Romeo Factory, Milan Duomo, Ponte Della Ghisolfa, Parco Sempione, Stazione Centrale Circolo Arci Bellezza. Underpinned by theories Giorgio Agamben, Antonio Gramsci Andre Bazin essay creates theoretical framework that works parallel detailed analysis scenes, original archival material, dialogues, places, history architecture locations. demonstrates how urban architectural spaces not only accommodated narrative but shaped, twisted structured story masterpiece. paper shows Visconti succeeded visualizing ‘hidden’ was never appeared silver screen before Brothers.