Novecento
"From the cradle to the grave - victims of history and change!"
1900 - Characters & Cast
Character Analysis
Alfredo Berlinghieri
Robert De Niro
Motivation
Driven by a desire for personal comfort and a lingering love for Olmo, though he lacks the strength to defy his class interests.
Character Arc
Born into extreme privilege, Alfredo moves from a rebellious child to an impotent adult who cannot stand against the atrocities of the regime he inadvertently funds.
Olmo Dalcò
Gérard Depardieu
Motivation
Total commitment to the liberation of the peasantry and the survival of his community against the landowning class.
Character Arc
From an illegitimate peasant boy to a battle-hardened soldier and socialist leader, Olmo becomes the unwavering voice of the workers' movement.
Attila Mellanchini
Donald Sutherland
Motivation
Pure domination and the cruel exercise of power over those he considers inferior.
Character Arc
A petty estate manager who uses the rise of Fascism to enact his sadistic and psychopathic impulses, becoming the film's ultimate embodiment of evil.
Leo Dalcò
Sterling Hayden
Motivation
To ensure the continuity of the peasant line and maintain their dignity in the face of exploitation.
Character Arc
The patriarch of the peasant family who represents the old, pre-modern agrarian wisdom and communal strength.