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“Viva l’Italia is a documentary made after the event, trying to figure out what happened. I tried to place myself in front of the events of a century ago, the way a documentarist would have done who had the good fortune to follow Garibaldi’s campaign with his camera.” - Roberto Rossellini

To celebrate the centenary of Italy, the Italian government commissioned Rossellini to make a biopic of Giuseppe Garibaldi, one that would follow his exploits with ‘the Thousand’ and their role in the country’s unification. Rossellini approached the film as he had Francesco, giullare di Dio, presenting the main character in neo-realist mode, as though making a documentary.

Restored by Arrow Films from the original negative, this disc marks the first UK home video release of Viva l’Italia in any format, allowing English-speaking audience to discover another Rossellini classic.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Brand new 2K restoration from the original negative
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• Original Italian mono soundtracks with optional English subtitles
• Garibaldi, an alternate shorter cut of the film originally prepared for the US market
• Brand-new interview with Roberto Rossellini’s assistant on the film, Ruggero Deodato, recorded exclusively for this release
• "I Am Garibaldi", a brand-new visual essay by Tag Gallagher, author of The Adventures of Roberto Rossellini: His Life and Films
• Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector's booklet containing new writing on the film by filmmaker and critic Michael Pattison

A quick search online shows that while this has apparently hasn't received as much attention as things like Rome, Open City or Paisan, Rosselini thought very highly of it and was most proud of this film above all his others. Anyone know anything about it?

I like it, and I'm very glad to see it come out. It's somewhat of a precursor to his later television history films (Rossellini’s take on the Risorgimento, specifically Garibaldi), though it’s more of a spectacle. I'd say the film is only half-successful, suffering from a certain impersonality, but there’s a great visual quality throughout and some wonderful landscape battlefield tableaux.

I've seen it twice and I don't like and enjoy it very much.

Rossellini himself was quite the fan of it.

Of all my films, I'm proudest of Viva l'Italia. I consider it important as a work of research, as the most carefully done of all my films, and then because I feel it to be intimately true. I must confess, at the risk of sounding ridiculous, that when I watch Viva l'Italia and it's the only one of my films that I've seen two or three times — my hair stands on end and tears come to my eyes. (from Tag Gallagher's excellent book)

Everything I've ever read about this film, from critics on both sides and Rossellini's own statements, has made it lowest-priority viewing for me.

It's a wonderful and remarkable movie!

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
• Brand new 2K restoration from the original negative
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• Original Italian mono soundtracks with optional English subtitles
• Garibaldi, an alternate shorter cut of the film originally prepared for the US market
• Brand-new interview with Roberto Rossellini’s assistant on the film, Ruggero Deodato, recorded exclusively for this release
• "I Am Garibaldi", a brand-new visual essay by Tag Gallagher, author of The Adventures of Roberto Rossellini: His Life and Films
• Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet containing new writing on the film by filmmaker and critic Michael Pattison

david hare wrote:And I hope Mr Nield invites you to do the video commentary.

No Tag Gallagher commentary, David, but we do get a video essay. Just brought this home and will watch tonight.

tag gallagher wrote:It's a wonderful and remarkable movie!

Am with you, Tag. I found it a thrilling experience.

Slant review