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In this comedic section, a feudal landlord (Don Lollò) orders a very large jar for his olive oil, but the new jar breaks almost immediately under mysterious circumstances. The great "jar-fixer" Zi' Dima, famous for his secret-recipe glue, is called to repair the jar, but Zi' Dima manages to fix the jar with himself in it and Don Lollò refuses to break the jar again to let him out.

The film depicts four short stories from Luigi Pirandello's 15-volume series Novelle per un anno, which play around his birthplace in 19th century Sicily. A raven, which in the introduction is shown to get a bell around his neck from locals, leads one from one story to the next.

Primary Title
  • Kaos
Episode Title
  • The Jar = La giara
Date Broadcast
  • Thursday 9 April 2020
Release Year
  • 1984
Duration
  • 47:00
Episode
  • 3
Channel
  • RaiPlay
Broadcaster
  • Rai
Programme Description
  • The film depicts four short stories from Luigi Pirandello's 15-volume series Novelle per un anno, which play around his birthplace in 19th century Sicily. A raven, which in the introduction is shown to get a bell around his neck from locals, leads one from one story to the next.
Episode Description
  • In this comedic section, a feudal landlord (Don Lollò) orders a very large jar for his olive oil, but the new jar breaks almost immediately under mysterious circumstances. The great "jar-fixer" Zi' Dima, famous for his secret-recipe glue, is called to repair the jar, but Zi' Dima manages to fix the jar with himself in it and Don Lollò refuses to break the jar again to let him out.
Owning Collection
  • Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
  • Television
Languages
  • Italian
Captioning Languages
  • English
Captions
Live Broadcast
  • No
Rights Statement
  • Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Subjects
  • Storage jars--Drama
  • Italy--Drama
  • Feature films--Italy
Genres
  • Comedy
  • Historical drama
Contributors
  • Paolo Taviani (Director)
  • Vittorio Taviani (Director)
  • Paolo Taviani (Writer)
  • Vittorio Taviani (Writer)
  • Tonino Guerra (Writer)
  • Ciccio Ingrassia (Actor)
  • Franco Franchi (Actor)
  • Maria Lo Sardo (Actor)
  • Giovanni Marsala (Actor)
  • Giuliani G. De Negri (Producer)
  • Nicola Piovani (Composer)
  • Giuseppe Lanci (Cinematographer)
  • Roberto Perpignani (Editor)
  • RAI Cinema (Production Unit)
  • Filmtre (Production Unit)
Third story THE JAR It was a good year for the olive harvest... ...despite the fog during the flowering period. Somebody far-sighted... ...ordered an enormous jar for his harvest. ...as big as a mother prioress. The old ones made of glazed earthware, were not big enough anymore. To whom does this here belong? To Don Lollo. Then there we have it This jar is for him. You still have a long way to go. I don't know the way. Get up, I'll show it to you. Go on. Do you see that hill over there? It belongs to Don Lollo. Behind it is the farmhouse. It belongs to Don Lollo. Then go down to the river. That is also his. Go past it and climb the next hill. Then go down again and Don Lollo will be waiting for you. What a year! Clean yourself up. They are watching you. They’re watching. You are their Charlemagne. Still it makes me sad, Sara. - What are you saying? God is unjust. - Don't be blasphemous! - Take that boy. He who hasn't a penny, could live for 60 years. And I, who owns all of this, how long will I still live? Fifteen, twenty years? Don't you like working for me? Of course I do, Don Lollo. Then do something. There he is! Did you hear that? It sounds like a bell. Let me down. My poor jar. What happened to you? Jealousy it was, jealousy. And cruelty. Where will I find another one like that? It’s my own fault. I never should have left you alone. Then you still would still be in one piece and not broken forever. What am I to do? No, don't do that. It still can be fixed. It looks like a simple crack. Maybe it was flawed. No, he rang like a bell... ...that will never chime again. Yes it will. It’ll take a miracle. There is a man who can fix it - Who? The best restorer in Sicily. Does he have magic hands? It is not his hands, but his glue that works miracles. When that dries, it's as hard as rock. What kind of glue is that? - He knows its secret. How can I find him? Here’s around here. Nearby. We have sent for him. Turn and look. It is uncle Dima. They say that you... They say you have a miracle glue. May I see it? Don't handle it like that. It is very sensitive. Can my jar be repaired? The glue. The court has delivered its verdict. Be aware that I, miracle glue or not... ...don't have the slightest confidence. It should be clamped. SO DO YOU TRADE WITH ME? Who do you think you are? Charlemagne? We must put oil in that jar. I want it clamped. Glue and a clamp That's an order. No, not on my hump. Please. I beg you. Don't stand there looking. Get to work! If you want it clamped, I need help. If you want it clamped, I need help. My hat! Did you really get the formula for that glue from a dream? Yes yes. And what did you see? My father. Did he tell you how to make it? - You dolt. How come? Do you know who my father was? The devil who devours you. So you are a devil’s child? - Yes. And here, in this bag... ...I carry a pitch that will stick it together, People want to wreck jars with these bad clamps. Black pitch? White. I learnt it from my father. They will feel how powerful it is when they boil in it. Their hellish pitch is black. Understood? If I smear it on your hand... ...and press firmly... ...you will never get it off. Get to work. Get out of my way. Turn around. Easy. Pull! Pull! Knock! Knock on it! And now the cramping. You there, help us. Help me out. Damn, help me out. You are pretty well stuck in there. Beautiful, as good as new. But unfortunately you did not consider your hump. And now you want out by breaking my jar. Who pays if he breaks again? So? You want to leave me in here? No, no. Let's see What we can do. What shall we do? Help! Help! If you don't break it, I will. I’ll let it tumble so it breaks against that wall. Let's be sensible. I will help you. Slowly, slowly. It won't go, it won't go. My shoulder is in the way. It is ever so big at one side. My hump is not too big... ...but the neck of your jar is too narrow. Get down. Get down. Bite on it Now I'll show you something. Turn around. No, don't do it. Your tickling me under my armpits. Ho, stop! Get in as well! The carriage! Did you hear me? It would be in your best interest to consult my lawyer. But first my obligations. I'll pay you for your work. You shall all witness this. Five liras. You probably don't like me, Don Lollo. I’ve just had my appendix operated on. If I laugh, the stitches will burst. What is there to laugh about? It's about my jar. And you want him to stay in there so at least it is still useful? Please, stop it. You know what this is called? deprivation of liberty. Who deprives him of his liberty? He’s doing it himself, isn’t he? I could ask damages for abusive housekeeping Send a warrant to evecuate. Ouch! My wound opened again. Come back another time. I did warn you. Please. Let him stay. Advice is always possible. You, Don Lollo, must immediately... ...release the prisoner. He, uncle Dima, on the other hand is responsible for the damages... ...created by his stupidity. He must pay compensation for the jar. I must choose my words carefully now. Not for a new jar. It was already broken. But now it's better than before. He says so himself. Let him assess the value In front of everybody. Me? Pay you? Ridiculous. If I only had used my own glue... ...I wouldn't rot away in here. My lawyer did not anticipate that. You don't like me, do you? But I like you less. You didn't have fantasy to begin with. Put him in front of the stable... ...and take away that canopy! Quickly! You are going to prison. You’re lodging in my jar, aren’t you?. I’ll sue you for abusive housekeeping. You want to stay there? Fine by me. You will perish by starvation! And I will eat from it, and you too. Go fetch what's needed. Come, there is more light here. The moon! The Moon! Don't leave me here. I want to see the moon too. Me too. No, don't lift it. Roll it, slowly. Yes, like that. Shift it on its side. On its side, yes. I can see it! Stop. It is beautiful. Seems like ages ago since I last saw him. Look. Break your neck, old devil. He is dead! You have broken it. And I have won. My jar. My poor jar.
Subjects
  • Storage jars--Drama
  • Italy--Drama
  • Feature films--Italy