The Deserter (1983) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A grieving mother's support for a war memorial intersects with the painful history of her youngest son's desertion and the priest's divided duty.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Village Remembers

A woman mourns her two sons lost in World War I and commits her savings to a village war memorial. The poor cannot afford to contribute, while the richer villagers are reluctant to give.

Key Events

• Two Sons Lost in War — A grieving woman mourns her two sons, who were lost in World War I. Location: Unspecified village
• Village Memorial Proposal — The village considers supporting a memorial to the war dead. Location: Unspecified village
• Poor Villagers Cannot Give — The village poor have too little money to support the memorial. Location: Unspecified village
• Wealthy Villagers Withhold Funds — The richer villagers are described as tight-fisted and unwilling to contribute. Location: Unspecified village
• A Woman's Savings — The grieving woman gives fifteen years of savings to support the memorial. Location: Unspecified village

The Memorial's Meaning

The priest questions whether the memorial will preserve the memory of suffering or disguise war's human cost with rhetoric. The memorial's advocates nevertheless begin to sustain the effort.

Key Events

• The Priest Objects — The priest worries that the memorial may obscure war's human cost with rhetoric. Location: Unspecified village
• Memorial Advocates Gather — The memorial's advocates begin to sustain the effort. Location: Unspecified village

The Son's Desertion

Flashbacks reveal that the woman's youngest son shot his captain and deserted the army. The account shifts the memorial debate toward the personal consequences of war.

Key Events

• Flashback to the Army — Flashbacks reveal the youngest son's wartime actions. Location: Unspecified
• The Captain Is Shot — The woman's youngest son shoots his captain. Location: Unspecified military setting
• The Son Deserts — After shooting his captain, the youngest son deserts the army. Location: Unspecified

A Mother's Care

The son comes to his mother and dies of fever while she cares for him. The priest helps them as much as he can, but feels bound to disclose the desertion to the authorities.

Key Events

• Return to His Mother — The deserter comes to die of fever while in his mother's care. Location: His mother's home
• The Priest Offers Help — The priest helps the mother and her son as much as he can. Location: Unspecified
• Duty to Inform Authorities — Despite helping them, the priest feels compelled to tell the authorities that the son deserted. Location: Unspecified
• War's Human Cost — The memorial debate is set against the suffering and personal losses caused by war. Location: Unspecified village

Story Breakdown

• A Mother's Loss — The woman's commitment to the memorial is rooted in the loss of her sons during World War I.
  • Sons Lost — She mourns her two sons lost in World War I.
  • Memorial Commitment — She is the only villager determined to support the war memorial financially.
• Village Resistance — The memorial effort encounters different forms of resistance among the villagers.
  • Poor Villagers — The village poor have too little money to contribute.
  • Wealthy Reluctance — The richer villagers are described as tight-fisted.
• A Costly Gift — The woman's personal contribution contrasts with the village's reluctance and limited means.
  • Fifteen Years — She gives her savings accumulated over fifteen years.
  • Memorial Advocates — The memorial's advocates begin to sustain the effort.
• The Priest's Doubt — The priest questions whether the memorial will honor suffering honestly.
  • Fear of Rhetoric — He worries the memorial may disguise the human cost of war.
  • Past Horrors — He fears villagers will not be reminded of the horrors and suffering of war.
• The Son's Desertion — Flashbacks disclose the youngest son's actions in the army.
  • Captain Shot — The youngest son shoots his captain.
  • Army Desertion — After shooting the captain, he deserts the army.
• A Fevered Death — The deserter returns to his mother and dies while she cares for him.
  • Mother's Care — The son is in his mother's care as he dies of fever.
  • The Priest Helps — The priest helps the mother and son as much as possible.
• Duty and Disclosure — The priest's assistance is complicated by his sense of obligation to report the desertion.
  • Moral Conflict — The priest feels compelled to tell the authorities that the son deserted.
  • Human Cost — The family's loss and the priest's dilemma reflect the suffering behind the memorial debate.

Directed by

Giuliana Berlinguer

Key Cast

• Isella Orchis
• Irene Papas — Mariangela
• Mattia Sbragia — Saverio
• Omero Antonutti — Father Coi