This is an extraordinary documentary about the crazy Palio horse race that takes place every year (July 2 and August 16) on Piazza del Campo in the city of Siena. It's hard to really understand how much the Palio influence people lives in Siena. I think this documentary at least gives you a feel and a little bit of glint of the passion in it and how strong the Contrade Civetta bounds together young and old people. I'm impressed how the film makers could get access to this really unique footage and interview's. This is a must see if you like modern documentaries! Although I find it very hard to get the DVD from somewhere it's totally worth time and money spent on finding it.
4 Reviews
A warm and wonderful community
ligoniel18 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I was channel surfing and came across this wonderful documentary. As another comment has noted; the degree to which the entire community pulls together and hopes as one that their time will come was absolutely heart-warming.
The documentary focuses around a horse race (which lasts a minute at most) that takes place every year, called the Palio di Siena. Every individual area, or contrada, is assigned a horse by lottery and hopes that their jockey will do them proud. The area of Civetta, that the documentary focuses on, has not won the Palio for a very long time and the overwhelming sense of shame they feel in the face of other contradas ritual mockery is palpable and almost stifling as the race day gets closer.
We see the young man - chest flooding with pride as he is allowed to care for the horse during its brief stay. We say the local self-appointed consigliere who is now too afraid to watch the race in public. We see the woman who launders and prepares the Palio's procession flags as she tells us the heart breaking story of her husbands abandonment and her only sons tragic death - but she does have the hope of a win this time. And we see the entire region, from cradle to dotage, have a great feast to lift spirits and collectively will the long awaited win and their chance to hold their heads above the crowds.
A most moving moment for me was when the old man showed the nails in the wall of a local square where the horses stable is kept. Each nail represents a past victory in the Palio. "Thirty-five", he says, "only one more and we can have six rows of six and even another row later maybe ?"
All in all this documentary gives us a glimpse at a community that seems genuinely warm and with a robust social fabric that is all to rare in the modern world and at a ritual which pits community against community in ways that means more than most outsiders could really understand. You could do much much worse than cast an eye over this little gem when you get a chance.
The documentary focuses around a horse race (which lasts a minute at most) that takes place every year, called the Palio di Siena. Every individual area, or contrada, is assigned a horse by lottery and hopes that their jockey will do them proud. The area of Civetta, that the documentary focuses on, has not won the Palio for a very long time and the overwhelming sense of shame they feel in the face of other contradas ritual mockery is palpable and almost stifling as the race day gets closer.
We see the young man - chest flooding with pride as he is allowed to care for the horse during its brief stay. We say the local self-appointed consigliere who is now too afraid to watch the race in public. We see the woman who launders and prepares the Palio's procession flags as she tells us the heart breaking story of her husbands abandonment and her only sons tragic death - but she does have the hope of a win this time. And we see the entire region, from cradle to dotage, have a great feast to lift spirits and collectively will the long awaited win and their chance to hold their heads above the crowds.
A most moving moment for me was when the old man showed the nails in the wall of a local square where the horses stable is kept. Each nail represents a past victory in the Palio. "Thirty-five", he says, "only one more and we can have six rows of six and even another row later maybe ?"
All in all this documentary gives us a glimpse at a community that seems genuinely warm and with a robust social fabric that is all to rare in the modern world and at a ritual which pits community against community in ways that means more than most outsiders could really understand. You could do much much worse than cast an eye over this little gem when you get a chance.
A documentary that takes you fully into a time and place
runamokprods24 February 2011
Very interesting documentary about the yearly Palio horse-race through the streets of Siena, where each horse represents a different neighborhood.
The nearly religious fervor the population puts into the preparations for the race, and the intense emotions they put into the results are fascinating, Among the highlights are the sections about a 92 year old with the energy of a man 35 years younger, who still holds the race as the center of his being, and the generally splendid photography.
Not a super deep or emotional experience, but a wonderful chance to get a look inside a culture without almost any exposition, just images, and the words of the people themselves.
The nearly religious fervor the population puts into the preparations for the race, and the intense emotions they put into the results are fascinating, Among the highlights are the sections about a 92 year old with the energy of a man 35 years younger, who still holds the race as the center of his being, and the generally splendid photography.
Not a super deep or emotional experience, but a wonderful chance to get a look inside a culture without almost any exposition, just images, and the words of the people themselves.
A Sensitive Documentary
gradyharp8 October 2006
THE LAST VICTORY may appear on the DVD cover to be a story film, but in truth it is a documentary - in other words the story within the film is true and untampered. That fact makes the film even more entertaining, especially to those who love Italy and the traditions about which the casual visitor knows too little.
In Siena there is an annual horserace called the 'Palio' in the city's center piazza (Piazza del Campo). The event dates back to medieval times and represents the theme of solidarity of the seventeen various neighborhoods (contrada) of Siena, each of which has a symbol and a coat of arms with accompanying flags and regalia. THE LAST VICTORY follows one of these contrada - Civetta - as its closely bonded families prepare for the Palio. They wear the colors, they set up long tables of food, and they raise money to compete in the race. A few days before the Palio each contrada wins a horse through what seems like a lottery and that horse is praised by the populace, a jockey is chosen and the race begins.
The tender part of this ritual is supported by the fact that director John Appel has selected members of Civetta - Egidio Mecacci, Paolo Rossi, Alma Savini, Roberto Papei, Camilla Marzucchi and others - and follows their moods and exceitement and preparation for the big event. The 92 year old Egidio is perhaps the most charismatic as he relates the sad history that that the Civetta has not won the race since 1979 and all hopes 'ride' on the beautiful horse that is assigned to them. The preparations are intense: the piazza is ringed with dirt over the stones to create a running track, the horse is groomed, and the members of the neighborhood gather and sing and eat in hopes they will win the Palio. The ending of the race is best left for the viewer to see, but in the course of just over a minute the race is complete and the impact the results have on the Civetta are telling.
Appel and his crew have captured the essence of an important Sienese tradition and this little quiet film shares insights into the Italian sense of camaradiere and familia that is all too rarely seen today. The film is touching and worth viewing - for education and for entertainment well presented as a documentary. Grady Harp
In Siena there is an annual horserace called the 'Palio' in the city's center piazza (Piazza del Campo). The event dates back to medieval times and represents the theme of solidarity of the seventeen various neighborhoods (contrada) of Siena, each of which has a symbol and a coat of arms with accompanying flags and regalia. THE LAST VICTORY follows one of these contrada - Civetta - as its closely bonded families prepare for the Palio. They wear the colors, they set up long tables of food, and they raise money to compete in the race. A few days before the Palio each contrada wins a horse through what seems like a lottery and that horse is praised by the populace, a jockey is chosen and the race begins.
The tender part of this ritual is supported by the fact that director John Appel has selected members of Civetta - Egidio Mecacci, Paolo Rossi, Alma Savini, Roberto Papei, Camilla Marzucchi and others - and follows their moods and exceitement and preparation for the big event. The 92 year old Egidio is perhaps the most charismatic as he relates the sad history that that the Civetta has not won the race since 1979 and all hopes 'ride' on the beautiful horse that is assigned to them. The preparations are intense: the piazza is ringed with dirt over the stones to create a running track, the horse is groomed, and the members of the neighborhood gather and sing and eat in hopes they will win the Palio. The ending of the race is best left for the viewer to see, but in the course of just over a minute the race is complete and the impact the results have on the Civetta are telling.
Appel and his crew have captured the essence of an important Sienese tradition and this little quiet film shares insights into the Italian sense of camaradiere and familia that is all too rarely seen today. The film is touching and worth viewing - for education and for entertainment well presented as a documentary. Grady Harp
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