Padre Padrone (1977)

Padre padrone / My Father My Master
Feature Film | Biographical Drama | Italy | Sardinian & Italian | 1h54m
Dir: Paolo Taviani & Vittorio Taviani | Scr: Paolo Taviani & Vittorio Taviani | Book: Gavino Ledda | Ph: Mario Masini | Prod: Giuliani G. De Negri | Mus: Egisto Macchi | Ed: Roberto Perpignani | PD: Gianni Sbarra | Snd: Pietrantonio Federico & Giovanni Sardo | Cast: Omero Antonutti, Saverio Marconi, Marcella Michelangeli, Fabrizio Forte, Marino Cenna, Stanko Molnar, Nanni Moretti

Taken out of school at the age of six by his tyrannical father to work as a shepherd, a young Sardinian peasant – despite a childhood of beatings, bestiality, and benightedness – grows up to be a learned man of letters, in the Tavianis’ engrossing biographical drama. Muted but eye-catching visuals, innovative sound design, and authentically awkward performances combine to grimly entertaining effect.