Till Marriage Do Us Part

4 Pages 901 Words

Till Marriage Do Us Part
In Till Marriage Do Us Part, Luigi Comencini draws definite ties between sexual and political events. Eugenia, Raimondo, Pennacchini, the Baron Henry, and D’Annunzio are all figures who are drawn by the lure of political power as well as the power of human sexuality. The film, based on a meeting of two worlds that do not understand each other, lends itself to the constant contrast between Sicily and Paris and the aristocracy and the working class. In addition, colonialism and nationalism are two main facets of Italian culture that unify and influence the daily lives of the aristocracy and the common man. The political and social atmosphere of Italy in the mid-1900s allows for the close association between sex and politics.
The two cities where the film takes place, Paris and Sicily, represent two very different political structures. Sicily stands for the old world of a devout Christian society, whereas Paris is liberated and open-minded. While in the train on Raimondo and Eugenia‘s honeymoon, the French Baron Henry advises Eugenia to “have fun in Paris” because once she returns to Sicily, she will be tied down with children and live a life filled with unhappiness. The baron tells Eugenia to explore her sexuality while in a city where women are free to make their own decisions. For when she returns to Sicily, her way of life will already be set. The atmosphere of the countries differ in that one recognizes women’s liberation and the other is embedded in the ways of the older, more conservative generation. Where Sicily represents sexual repression, Paris understands and accepts one’s need for sexual expression. Not only can sex and politics be viewed through the structure of different countries,!
but also through the division of the classes.
In Italy, there is a distinction between the aristocrats and the working people. However, this political division may be overseen when the body’s des...