Teorema – Geometrie der Liebe (1968)

Teorema – Geometrie der Liebe: Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. With Silvana Mangano, Terence Stamp, Massimo Girotti, Anne Wiazemsky. A mysterious young man seduces each member of a bourgeois family. When he suddenly leaves, how will their lives change?

“..Proving theorems is a central activity of mathematicians. Note that u0026quot;theoremu0026quot; is distinct from u0026quot;theoryu0026quot;. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ePier Paolo Pasoliniu0026#39;s u0026quot;Teoremau0026quot; (1968) is a fable that tells how a handsome young man (extremely attractive Terrence Stamp u0026quot;with the eyes of an angel and the grin of the devilu0026quot;) stays as a guest in the house of a wealthy factory owner and seduces one after another all members of the household – the maid, the teenagers son and daughter, the wife, and the father (in this order). When released in 1968, the film had divided believers and atheists as much as critics. Some of Pasoliniu0026#39;s comrades-Marxists were also infuriated by this attack on their ideology. Many viewers were disturbed by its removing sexual taboos even though sex is handled very tastefully. It is more a symbol of connection and closeness to God (or it could be to Devil, we may only guess). Made almost forty years ago, u0026quot;Teoremau0026quot; seems to be simple and puzzling at the same time. It reminded me Ingmar Bergmanu0026#39;s movies from his u0026quot;Trilogy of Faithu0026quot; which sums up Bergmanu0026#39;s own philosophy regarding religion and God – u0026quot;God has never spoken because He does not existu0026quot;. In Bergmanu0026#39;s world where God does not exist, communication and understanding are not possible and everyone is locked in their loneliness like in a cage. In Pasoliniu0026#39;s film, God sends his angel to a chosen family. He has spoken to them and known them but then he left them. Did they become happier? Is that possible for a human to keep on living like nothing happen after the encounter with God? u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI watched u0026quot;Teoremau0026quot; for the first time few weeks ago but I still think about it trying to understand what u0026quot;theoremu0026quot; Pasolini tried to prove? I also was thinking about the films that were inspired by or reminded me a lot about u0026quot;Teoremau0026quot;. Iu0026#39;ve mentioned Bergman already. Luis Bunuel with u0026quot;Nazarinu0026quot;, u0026quot;Viridianau0026quot;,u0026quot; Belle de jouru0026quot; (1967) – the motheru0026#39;s transformation in u0026quot;Teoremau0026quot; reminds about the film immediately, and u0026quot;Le Charme discret de la bourgeoisieu0026quot;(1972) come to mind. I was also reminded of Andrei Tarkovsky. The visual style, camera work and the use of music in u0026quot;Teoremau0026quot; seem similar with Russian Masteru0026#39;s. His last film, u0026quot;Sacrificeu0026quot; may be the one closest to Pasoliniu0026#39;s film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI would never say that everyone must watch u0026quot;Teoremau0026quot;. It is a very unusual film that could be easily dismissed as ridiculous and dated or it would be thought of as absolutely brilliant and mysterious. I have not decided yet but I canu0026#39;t forget it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eP.S. November 29, 2006 – Itu0026#39;s been several months since I saw u0026quot;Teoremau0026quot; and now I believe that it is brilliant and belongs to the the best films ever made. One can meditate forever on its depths and mystery, and thatu0026#39;s the sign of a great work of Art for me.”