Surpassing the new-realistic themes or those of past history Pasolini enters deep waters of philosophical questions of post- industrial society mainly on those concerning the upper class of those possessing the production means. It is a hard accusation there of unmeaning way of life. Now the technique and theme is surrealistic, reminding "maitre of surreal", Bunuel's, former film "The Exterminator Angel".
In their big wealthy Milanese house they're all wandering without a meaning of existence. The son has no talent for the art of painting he wants to follow, the daughter has no love to stand upon, the mother the same. Dressed with high fashion clothes and hair-styled the same, she passes all time wandering in the big garden with no real feelings deep inside her. Her husband spends all time at his industry not paying any real attention to his family. Their maid as she represents the opposite to bourgeoisie class stays always silent serving them the dinner - a figure representing New Testament's "Happy those who have no mind".
She is the one who can be saved as she returns to her village staying silent all day with no food or water. As the stranger arrives all are astonished by his beauty: His eyes, his smile, signs for the promised paradise they couldn't attend on this earth. But are they really attracted to his beauty or in the notion of salvation he carries?
With this prophetic film Pier-Paolo Pasolini shows that there is no salvation in that chosen road: surrounding landscape is cold and desert if it is without the human joy of life. Where that joy is hidden? In the blue eyes of the visitor, in the open air smile and joy he carries with him. But as he has to leave the house all again is getting more and more obscure. The boy's paintings a mess on the walls of his room, girl's pessimism in not finding affection hidden in the old family's photo albums drives her to complete paranoia. Same for the father who wants to get rid of the factory offering it to the labor-workers, drives him to madness in Milan's rail-way station by getting rid of all his clothes.
Same for the wife who is searching for love affairs in the streets with passing by strangers. The only one who can be saved is maid's returning to her village, gifted with miracle's power to cure diseases. Last scene with her body except the head in the ground an allegory of the lamb carrying all human sins. There is no way of salvation no matter if you are lamb or wolf. For the first the mud of this world, for the second the madness.
Mud, madness is the crowing of that post-war industrial society Pasolini says. Contrary to Trilogy of Life looking at as an Ode to Life, this film is an Ode to Death. If you want something to be changed to that structure you find yourself powerless and mad to the end. Why this terrifying Teorema is in front us? Because - according to precedent Pasolini's works of the new-realistic school, is built on exploitation of other people, on no-mercy rules of western societies which condemns people living in poverty, growing aversion between them. The building you construct has no strong basis it's going to fall, he says to us.
Finally a bell is ringing? An SOS bell. A pessimistic sound for society we all live. Teorema is a puzzle that can't be solved by human race of modern times.
Only if you have salvation angel besides you, who by all means, you keep it all time close to you, salvation could be earned.
In their big wealthy Milanese house they're all wandering without a meaning of existence. The son has no talent for the art of painting he wants to follow, the daughter has no love to stand upon, the mother the same. Dressed with high fashion clothes and hair-styled the same, she passes all time wandering in the big garden with no real feelings deep inside her. Her husband spends all time at his industry not paying any real attention to his family. Their maid as she represents the opposite to bourgeoisie class stays always silent serving them the dinner - a figure representing New Testament's "Happy those who have no mind".
She is the one who can be saved as she returns to her village staying silent all day with no food or water. As the stranger arrives all are astonished by his beauty: His eyes, his smile, signs for the promised paradise they couldn't attend on this earth. But are they really attracted to his beauty or in the notion of salvation he carries?
With this prophetic film Pier-Paolo Pasolini shows that there is no salvation in that chosen road: surrounding landscape is cold and desert if it is without the human joy of life. Where that joy is hidden? In the blue eyes of the visitor, in the open air smile and joy he carries with him. But as he has to leave the house all again is getting more and more obscure. The boy's paintings a mess on the walls of his room, girl's pessimism in not finding affection hidden in the old family's photo albums drives her to complete paranoia. Same for the father who wants to get rid of the factory offering it to the labor-workers, drives him to madness in Milan's rail-way station by getting rid of all his clothes.
Same for the wife who is searching for love affairs in the streets with passing by strangers. The only one who can be saved is maid's returning to her village, gifted with miracle's power to cure diseases. Last scene with her body except the head in the ground an allegory of the lamb carrying all human sins. There is no way of salvation no matter if you are lamb or wolf. For the first the mud of this world, for the second the madness.
Mud, madness is the crowing of that post-war industrial society Pasolini says. Contrary to Trilogy of Life looking at as an Ode to Life, this film is an Ode to Death. If you want something to be changed to that structure you find yourself powerless and mad to the end. Why this terrifying Teorema is in front us? Because - according to precedent Pasolini's works of the new-realistic school, is built on exploitation of other people, on no-mercy rules of western societies which condemns people living in poverty, growing aversion between them. The building you construct has no strong basis it's going to fall, he says to us.
Finally a bell is ringing? An SOS bell. A pessimistic sound for society we all live. Teorema is a puzzle that can't be solved by human race of modern times.
Only if you have salvation angel besides you, who by all means, you keep it all time close to you, salvation could be earned.