Requiescant

Requiescant is a 1967 Italo-Western film starring Lou Castel, Mark Damon, and directed by Carlo Lizzani.

The film tells the story of a young boy named Requiescant (Lou Castel) who is separated from his family and raised by a group of pacifist Mexican peasants. This peaceful upbringing contrasts with the violent and corrupt world he finds himself in when he crosses paths with the villainous George Bellow Ferguson (Mark Damon), a wealthy landowner who sees himself as a god amongst men.

Requiescant becomes embroiled in a feud between Bellow Ferguson and his half-brother, the rebel leader Principe Aguilar. Along the way, he meets a variety of characters, including a fiery young woman named Princy (Mariangela Melato) who shows him how to use a gun and at one point saves his life.

As the tension between the two brothers builds, Requiescant becomes more emboldened and begins to find his voice as a defender of the oppressed. This culminates in a climactic showdown between the forces of good and evil.

What sets Requiescant apart from other spaghetti westerns is its use of political commentary. The film is critical of imperialism, capitalism, and the exploitation of Indigenous people. It also features a complex portrayal of pacifism, showing not only its potential for good but also the dangers of standing idly by in the face of evil.

The film's cast is one of its many strengths. Lou Castel delivers a powerful performance as the titular character, a naive young man who grows into a fierce defender of justice. Mark Damon is suitably menacing as the sadistic Bellow Ferguson, while Pier Paolo Pasolini (who wrote the film's screenplay) gives a small but memorable performance as a traveling preacher.

Director Carlo Lizzani is also to be commended for his expert handling of the action scenes. The film's violence is brutal and visceral, with a raw intensity that feels ahead of its time. This is particularly impressive given the film's modest budget - Requiescant was made for just 30 million lira, a fraction of the money spent on Hollywood Westerns of the time.

At its core, Requiescant is a film about the struggle for liberation. It's a gritty, uncompromising look at the fight against corruption and injustice, one that remains as urgent today as it did in 1967.