Sunflower: Sophia Loren Award Collection (1970)

Vittorio De Sica's Sunflower is one of those nice ideas for a love story that doesn't really pay off. Sophia Loren is the devoted wife who refuses to believe missing husband Marcello Mastroianni is dead on the Russian front after the end of the Second World War and determines to find him. Unfortunately the stars never really convince, playing almost parodic working class characters who are more mildly irritating than engaging with his exaggerated nasal accent and her bad wig they just remind you of one of those couples who you end up constantly sharing a dinner table with on holiday despite all your best efforts not to. It's a slave to clichés not one, but THREE railway station separations! but despite the sizeable budget often feels too rushed and half-baked to allow many of them to work even as a production line tearjerker. There's even some surprisingly poor camerawork at times in the Italian scenes that makes you wonder if anybody was that bothered about the final result. A few moments stand out, like the cabin packed with soldiers sleeping on their feet in the Russian winter or a field of sunflowers that are the only marker for the graves of unknown soldiers and peasants, and the last half hour is fairly effective, but it doesn't add up to much.

This is another title that has had a troubled history on DVD, from a decent transfer as part of Lionsgate's Sophia Loren 4-Film Collection (Neapolitan Carousel / Attila / Madame Sans-Gene / Sunflower) to a dire public domain release from Jef Films. Kino Lorber's US DVD and region-free Blu-ray release is certainly the best of the bunch, with a good widescreen transfer in the original Italian with English subtitles, stills gallery and Italian trailer. That edition is also available as part of the Sophia Loren: Award Collection [Blu-ray] (Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow / Marriage Italian Style / Sunflower / Vittorio D / Boccaccio '70) with Boccaccio '70, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Marriage Italian Style and feature-length documentary Vittorio D.

[SUNFLOWER (1970) Directed by Vittorio De Sica Widescreen Italian w/ English subtitles 107 min.] During WWII, a new army recruit, Antonio (Mastroianni) and his lover, Giovanna (Loren) wed and enjoy the marriage furlough awarded him before he's shipped off to the Russian front, never to be seen or heard from again. After the war is declared over, and fraught with despair upon hearing that he was last seen on a frozen battlefield attempting to return against impossible odds, Giovanna promises Antonio's mother that she will set out on an odyssey search for him, and won't return without knowledge of his fate. It's critical to them both to know, despite the outcome. Their mourning may never cease, but they may take dark comfort in closure.

She searches and searches, showing his picture to scores of women who don't even understand her language, in relentless pursuit of a possible lead to his whereabouts, even after being led to a site of unmarked graves acknowledged solely by wooden crosses that stretch out forever. She eventually discovers he's alive and where he is currently dwelling, but their reunion is anything but blissful. Why didn't he return to her after the war? Who is this person he currently resides with? Why wasn't there even a letter sent? Did he no longer love Giovanna, his family, friends and homeland? The answers to these questions aren't easy to comprehend.

As always, the pairing of Marcello and Sophia on screen insures a cinematic event not to be missed by lovers of world cinema, and adding the brilliant directorial skills of De Sica is more than just icing on this multi-tiered cake, it makes for mandatory viewing. At the time of its release, its lack of a Hollywood (read: cop-out) ending insured it dismal box-office receipts and lukewarm reviews due to it going against the grain of what was then the contemporary film trend America was (for the first time) seriously anti-war thanks to Vietnam, and almost all portrayals of WWII were of the 'MASH', 'Kelly's Heroes' or 'Catch 22' variety, unless we're speaking of 'Patton'. But this film seriously demands careful reconsideration now, as it showcases a heart-wrenching performance by Sophia Loren, the always understated brilliance of Marcello Mastroianni, and the keen, mindful eye and expertise of Vittorio De Sica.

A great, gripping drama that doesn't dwell too long in its melodrama, and a bittersweet ending that's thought-provoking long after the end credits roll, 'Sunflower' is a film about life, war, marriage, love and loss, even if there's a twinge of belladonna in the air. Highly recommended.

The Lorber Films blu-ray release offers a stunning print with exceptional colors and great audio quality, and there is a stills gallery and trailers for a few other Loren/Mastroianni must-see films.

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Beautiful movie..i love sophia loren! Living legend..very sexy and elegant. I wish i were more like her! Ahaha well sbout the dvd, i was happy to watch this beautiful movie in my blueray :] came just in time!

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I am so HAPPY WHEN I GOT THE BLURAY! I have been looking for this movie to many years.

LOVE IT!

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When Amazon.com a couple of years or more ago released the normal nstc version of Sunflower, I immediately Bought it, but when I tried to watch it, there was nothing to watch except grey grains. I'm still expecting Amazon to conpenate me. I hope that when Amazon.co.uk release a decent copy of Sunflower, they will send me a Blu-Ray copy free of charge.

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