Socialism has become such a dirty word over the decades that most people forget its actual intent, fundaments or even the possibility of application
as a form of government. Sure, the experience when applied didn't work on most nations due to its unpractibility on many issues and capitalists always find
a way to impose their views and diminish the valuable things socialism has to offer. Jean-Louis Commoli's film offers an interesting perspective on the ways
of socialism, not as a form of government but as an ideal followed by a community escaping from opression, hatred and trying to survive with a new set of
goals where they can prosper without greed and exploitation getting in the way and how everyone can help each other in simple ways.
"La Cecilia" is a small but seminal film about an experiment given to Italian
anarchists in the late 19th century by Brazilian emperor Dom Pedro II where he gave lands to the Italian group so they could conduct a socialist experience
while working on the land, producing from it and living from it. It's not necessarily the idea of spreading socialism all over Brazil, it was more about
the group living among themselves in a better way than they used to live in Italy where they were constantly repressed by authorities. While they reject the
notion of having a leader, it's obvious that Giovanni (Massimo Foschi) is the one chosen for such task since he's the only who can speak Portuguese and
get involved with the local merchants and others.
Obvious that they'll face a series of problems among themselves, as slowly things become problematic in their working and social views, and when the
women are brought from Italy along with the kids it becomes a more serious issue since they also advocate from a free love society where no one's married
to anyone, they can change partnerships and even choose the children for each country household. And they'll also face problems with the Brazilian, a matter
of bad timing as they emperor was kicked out and the presidential republic has just started, and their ideals are the opposite from the monarchy.
This is a perfect film to understand socialism, ways of implementation and how it worked (or could work). You get to see the experiences tried by the
group, their sense of union and togetherness while forming this ideal community and how they struggled to mantain all the good things when trouble came along.
It takes a step further from the free love thing but it gives plenty of food for thought with such topic - a clear paralel with the 1960's hippies. I'm not
sure if the actual socialist scenario happened in Brazil during Pedro II era (the film is slighlty accurare about some historical events, the problem is
that they jump ahead with some facts and one gets the impression the story takes place in two years. It goes from 1887 to 1892). The immigration part did
happened with many people coming from Europe and Japan around that time, and they formed their own communities and spread all over the nation. But the film
made me think about that period, and that the emperor actually could see this as a favorable thing, unlike the republicans fully supported by businessmen.
It's a very beautiful film, filled with many great moments and it provides many interesting insights as for the reasons the ideals of Marx, Engels and a
certain Thomas More (why people forget that the inspiration for the movement began with this Englishman in 1500's?) are noble, valuable and interesting but hardly
ever work when put into effect. There's always something in the way, either from the community itself or from exterior forces. And when you watch the group
working the land and hardly ever bickering with each other, you almost think for a second that it could work without obstacles and a dream world would exist. Empashis on the world "dream". 10/10.
