Tuesday Film and Discussion - Padre Padrone

Padre Padrone (1977) Italy | Biographical Drama / Coming - of - Age
Directors: Paolo & Vittorio Taviani With: Omero Antonutti, Saverio Marconi, Marcella Michelangeli
Duration: 1:53 h rs. In Italian with English subtitles
Programmer: Elías Nahmías

Winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes, Padre Padrone is a powerful and deeply personal account of education, emancipation, and the enduring grip of patriarchal authority. Based on the autobiographical memoir of Gavino Ledda, the film follows a young Sardinian boy torn from school and forced into a life of isolation as a shepherd by his domineering father. Through an intense blend of poetic realism and stark emotional detail, the Taviani brothers explore the tension between tradition and self - liberation. Omero Antonutti's performance as the tyrannical father is unforgettable, while Saverio Marconi brings quiet strength and resilience to the role of Gavino.

Padre Padrone is not just a story of rebellion against a parent, but against a whole culture of silence, brutality, and illiteracy. A landmark in Italian cinema, it remains a deeply moving testament to the human spirit's capacity for transformation through language, thought, and imagination. Following the screening, there will be a discussion with Kayla Fine.