An old man (Toto) and his young son (Ninetto Davoli) are walking down a road in the Rome countryside. They encounter a leftist intellectual talking raven who accompanies them on their journey. Pier Paolo Pasolini's comedic fantasy fable is an easy going satire. It's clear that the crow is Pasolini's spokesperson in the film but he's very cynical about mankind's future (though I'm not sure Pasolini himself would agree with my assessment). The travails of the father and son mirror Pasolini's acceptance that nothing will change while pointing out the cruelty of a capitalist based culture. Toto, a great physical comedian. and the adorable Davoli have a relaxed chemistry that goes far in giving an often fragmented film consistency. As a comedy, it's only moderately successful, it feels too self conscious to be truly funny. As a Marxist lecture on celluloid, it's too obvious. But it's an inventive film with a few inspired moments and Pasolini the most playful I've ever seen him. The film's opening title credits are amusingly sung (by Domenico Modugno) to Ennio Morricone's lively underscore.
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