Filmhouse/New Kalamata Cinema Club-VIVA MARIA!

Viva Maria! is a unique creation by Louis Malle, both for its subject and for the era in which it was filmed. It predicted the outbreak of the French May Revolution but also exerted a special cinematic influence, inspiring many spaghetti westerns.

At the end of the 19th century, an Irish IRA bomber (Brigitte Bardot) is forced to take refuge in a Latin American country. There, she meets an actress of the same name (Jean Moreau), who introduces her to art and previously unknown aspects of everyday life. However, oppression is omnipresent and leaves no one unaffected. Their acquaintance with a young revolutionary (George Hamilton) will have a catalytic effect and inspire them to resume the struggle.

Although it is a particularly politicised film, it maintains a cheerful tone throughout its duration without becoming comical. The messages are pervasive, not only in the development of the story but also in the protagonists' dialogue. Ultimately, there is a clear hint that the revolutionary spirit would spread from Latin America to France. This led to Louis Malle's characterisation of being a political prophet. Rarely has a director managed to capture the essence of the times with such precision and predict future political explosions.

The scene with the protagonists' first joint appearance in the theatre is special. The idle Bardot accidentally tears her clothes, causing a commotion in the audience. Moreau decides to do the same, but with more femininity befitting an artist. This is the birth of striptease! Conclusion: The combination of art and rebelliousness gives rise to sensuality!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14th
VIVA MARIA!
Comedy, Romance | 12+ | 1965 | Fr | 120’
Director: Louis Malle
Starring: Brigitte Bardot, Jeanne Moreau, George Hamilton
21:30 | Vista Marina| General admission is 5 euros, admission is 3 euros for unemployed, students and families with many children, and free for under 18s