This Italian film is one I read about in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, the title made it obvious what the main subject was, but the story I did not know, I hoped it would be good, directed by Francesco Rosi (Christ Stopped at Eboli). Basically in southern Italy, the matriarch of the Giuranna family dies in the farmhouse, her husband summons their three sons from Rome to prepare for the funeral, each of whom are facing difficult personal problems. The first son, Raffaele (Philippe Noiret), is a courtroom judge presiding over a terrorism case, at risk of assassination he is in constant fear for his life. The second son, Rocco (Vittorio Mezzogiorno), is a religious man who lives in Naples, he works as a counsellor at a correctional institute for boys, hoping to achieve his dream of helping troubled teenagers. The third son, Nicola (Michele Placido), lives in Turin and works as a factory worker, he is involves in a labour dispute and his marriage is failing. Each of the men grieve for the loss of their mother in their own way, while also grappling with the other emotional issues that are pressing on them. The three brothers encounter the past and contemplate things that may come: Raffaele imagines himself dying, Rocco dreams of helping youths of Naples out of violence, drugs and corruption, and Nicola pictures himself and his wife and embracing, meanwhile the old man and his granddaughter take care of the farm and grieve together. Also starring Charles Vanel as Donato Giuranna and Andréa Ferréol as Raffaele's Wife. I understood the main plot of the story with a family of three brothers and the father brought together for the funeral of the mother, but I agree with critics it is perhaps overloaded with other topics about age gaps, marriage trouble, terrorism, politics, and of course death, overall it certainly engages you enough however that makes an interesting enough drama. Worth watching!

Francesco Rosi's "Tre fratelli" looks at three brothers who return to their childhood home after their mother dies. The movie goes into a study of the dissimilar paths that their lives have taken them. Raffaele (Philippe Noiret) is a judge prosecuting individuals charged with terrorism; Nicola (Michele Placido) is a union leader who supports the people targeted by Raffaele; and Rocco (Vittorio Mezzogiorno) works in a correctional institute for boys. But even beyond the different paths that the brothers' lives have taken them, the movie looks at their relationship (or lack thereof) with their father (Charles Vanel). It turns out that only the granddaughter is truly able to bond with the patriarch.The movie is almost mystifying in its focus on this family. Raffaele's dream brings up the issue of what constitutes terrorism. But in the end, all sides are forced to recognize that they are still a family. The granddaughter seems to represent the innocence that the brothers were forced to abandon as they went their separate ways in life. The end result is a very thought-provoking movie, definitely one that I recommend.

"Three Brothers" (Italian, 1980): An extremely melancholy movie – more like the depression of a Swedish film or the ennui of a French film, than anything typically Italian. Three estranged brothers receive word their Mother has died. Daily lives are put on hold, and each heads to the "country" for the funeral, their Father, and to reacquaint with one another in the village of their childhood. The three are shown in forgiving contrast to their Father, one of the son's daughters, and the old family dog. Think of this movie as a trim, non-commercial, patient, personal, very thoughtful "Big Chill". The scoring was perfectly sad and delicate throughout…you will not want to get up and dance. However, unlike a Swedish film, "Three Brothers" does slowly reveal glimmers of acceptance and hope.

I've always been very interested in Italy, its culture, its architecture, its cinema,... and that's why I will not let a chance go by to watch an Italian movie, because most of the time you'll see a fine combination of all these factors in it. So far I've already seen several Italian films, including some fine award winners like "La Meglio gioventù" and "La Stanza del figlio", and I can't remember that I've seen many that I really didn't like."Tre fratelli" tells the story of three brothers who return to the farmhouse in southern Italy where they grew up after the death of their mother. Except for their family ties, the three adult men don't really seem to have anything in common. Raffaele is a happily married judge in Rome who risks to be assassinated for a political case he hasn't even accepted yet, Rocco is a single social worker who works at a correctional institute for boys in Naples and Nicola is a radical factory worker from Turin who lives separated from his wife and who is involved in labor disputes and therefor risks to be fired. Together they have several discussions about the meaning of life, marriage terrorism, the mafia,... while their father grieves over the loss of his wife with his young granddaughter, who he also teaches something about life in the countryside.Perhaps not everybody agrees with me, but this movie reminded me a lot of "La Meglio gioventù". And you can definitely see that as a compliment, because I really loved that movie a lot. This movie too showed how several family members, who don't seem to have much in common at first, make the best of their lives together, with the current social and political situation in Italy on the background. The main difference is that this movie only focuses on the 1980's, while the story of the other movie started in 1966 and ended in 2000.Philippe Noiret, Michele Placido and Vittorio Mezzogiorno are very nice to watch as the brothers and Charles Vanel was very good as their father, but if I have to chose one actor who really surprised me, then it must be the young Marta Zoffoli. Despite her young age, she gave away a very fine performance and in my opinion she was the true star of the movie.Overall this is a very nice drama that certainly should get a lot more attention than what it has received so far. When I see that it has only received 130 votes until now, I truly believe that this movie doesn't get the audience that it deserves. It has a good story and some very fine acting to offer, the decors are nice and thanks to Francesco Rosi, the director and co-writer of this movie, everything has been brought together into one solid movie. I give this movie at least a 7.5/10 and hope that many more will see it.