Paolo and Vittorio Taviani
Kaos

Picture this; you're seated in front of the silver screen watching a movie. And, as many times before, you realize that the Full Moon's got one of the leading roles... I guess there are hundreds of movies around with a full moon appearance in them. Ever since the start of mankind the full moon has got quite a grip on us. Fascinating, frightening, a magic ball up there, a golden spellbinder. Making us staring, dreaming, longing to touch it. To go there, to be there. Up on the moon.

Looking back on the history of film it all started with Le Voyage dans la Lune, made by French pioneer-filmmaker Georges Mé liès almost 100 years ago, in 1902. And since then, like I said, hundreds and hundreds of Lunar Movies have been made. Many with the full moon used only as a symbol, or just as a part of the movie's title. All this because of the power and integrity of the full moon.

When speaking of screen apperances I guess that we roughly can divide them in two groups by genre:

1. Romance - because of the influence the moon has on our romantic moods and love affairs
2. Horror - in which we mostly have to deal with werewolfism, or: the beast inside

In both genres mentioned above there can be a dash or a lot of comedy present. There are of course also a lot of dead serious stuff around. Either you'll choose to call it fine art or just pure entertainment. OK, let's step on to our recommendation of the Moonth:

Kaos (Italy, 1984), written and directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, based on tales by Luigi Pirandello. The film contains of five different stories, penned by the acclaimed Italian author Pirandello. Let's zoom in on Secondo Racconto ("The Second Story"): Mal di Luna ("Moonsickness"). Located on Sicily, we meet a newly-wed couple, the peasant Batà and his lovely wife Sidora. They live on their small farm in a sparse land, with a seemingly waste and unproductive soil around them. On the 20th day of their wedding Batà seems to have changed rather drastically. He sits quietly staring at the sky, apathetic, and he doesn't react when Sidora asks if he'll come inside. Then he starts whining, and soon howling rather wildly and uncontrolled. He asks the terrified Sidora to hurry inside their house, and he begs her to close and shut all windows and doors. To be safe from what he may do to her.

The night goes on and the morning comes, with Batà totally exhausted by the happenings of last night. He tries to get himself together, and he then heads for the village, where a shocked Sidora has left for her mother. As Batà gets to the village he understands that the word's got around. Ashamed and tired he tells his story all alone on the the local piazza. Ever since he was a child he's been under the powers of the moon. Every full moon the same thing has happened. Over and over again. And he can't do a thing to stop it. He simply gets paralyzed. So, on the evening of the next full moon Batà and Sidora decide to be accompanied, just for the sake of safety. They're arrangeing a dinner party, with Sidoras mother and Saro, Sidoras cousin. He's a local Don-Juan, whom Sidora's got a slight crush on, and they seem very keen on going to bed together. After dining the night is closing up and the full moon gets through, ready to take on Batà....

What happens next...well, see for yourself as soon as you get the chance. You'll experience a tale about man and the moon, lust and desire, confusion and doubt. Presented in a naked style but also in an extremely elegant manner. A masterpiece indeed! See it! Nooooooow..

Copyright © 1996 Håvard Oppøyen