Fatto Di Sangue Fra Due Uomini Per Causa Di Una Vedova (aka Blood Feud) (1978)

Set in the fascist Sicily of 1920, the widow (Sophia Loren) of a man murdered by the local fascist leader (Turi Ferro) becomes involved with two men: an anarchist (Marcello Mastroianni) who has forsaken his landed gentry roots for political socialism and her late husband's American cousin (Giancarlo Giannini), who is a bootlegger and gangster. Written and directed by Lina Wertmuller (SWEPT AWAY), at first glance the film appears to be more mainstream (with superstars like Loren and Mastroianni in the leads) with romance in the forefront than her more political films like LOVE AND ANARCHY or SEVEN BEAUTIES. But the political themes are there, just less didactic than usual. Unfortunately, without a stronger structure of reflexivity that usually permeated her more political films, what we end up with is a rather tepid effort that doesn't quite work as either a political statement or as a romance. Still, Loren is a force of nature and one of the screen's most compelling actresses and I quite liked Giannini's performance and found his character more appealing than Mastroianni's who seemed too naive for a man his age. The film takes its title ("made of blood") literally in its bloodbath finale.