The action takes place in the remote hills above Florence in unknown parts of Tuscany, but there are several and most enjoyable scenes from Florence as well, showing how it was before the destruction of the Second World War, and the film is worth watching just for this. It's a grim drama though that is being enacted of passion and blind obsession of vengefulness, while actually no one is really evil here - there is no Iago in this drama of jealousy, and the instigator of the plot, the forest guard watching the rights and privacy of his master the count, has every reason to retaliate the injustice of the gross mistreatment he receives from a trespasser.and poacher he had got prosecuted and jailed, which atrocious scene introduces the film and is the most violent one. The events that follow are perfectly logical all the way. The film is crowded with fine rural scenes, and the finest of them all is probably the great harvest party when they.bring in the wheat for the winter to the accompaniment of glorious music and singing, while at the same time the drama moves on into its critical stage. The cinematography is masterful all the way, and there is no risk that you will relax from the intense pace of the drama development for one moment. The conclusion takes place in the dark, and no one can guess what the outcome will be - it is unavoidable to worry both for the count and for Nanni, the released jailbird. Mario Soldati was one of the great pioneers of the Italian neo-realism, showing the way for Visconti, Fellini, de Sica and others, and he also made international films, like the French "Eurgénie Grandet". He was a kind of Nestor of the golden age of Italian cinema from the 40s, and this is one of many jewels in his golden canon of lasting prominent films.
