I watched
Christ Stopped At Eboli last night and recommend the film for those who would like to add context to the genealogical facts they have amassed in researching their ancestors, especially ancestors from southern Italy. The version I saw was in Italian with subtitles but there were actually some scenes in which I understood some of the dialog. The film moves slowly which appeared to me to be deliberate in order to emphasize the the inertial pain of poverty and unending toil that the "peasants" had to endure. I wonder if they fit the label "contadino" that I have found so often listed on the documents of my own ancestors? The film is based on a memoir by Carlo Levi set in 1935-36, but written in 1945. I've gotten a glimpse of some of the scenes depicted in the film through the letters written by my great uncle and translated by the generous and talented translators here at Gente.