Don Camillo e l'onorevole Peppone, final scene

His most notable creations, also for its film adaptations, is Don Camillo, the "robust" pastor who speaks to Christ on the altar; Don Camillo's adversary is Peppone, the fierce communist mayor of the fictional village of Ponteratto (on the big screen Brescello, in Lower Emilia).

Don Camillo was impersonated by Fernandel, stage name of Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin (Marseille, May 8, 1903 - Paris, February 26, 1971), while Giuseppe Bottazzi (Peppone), by Gino Cervi, stage name of Luigi Cervi (Bologna, May 3, 1901 - Castiglione della Pescaia, January 3, 1974).

Don Camillo e l'onorevole Peppone, released in 1955, is the third episode in the saga starring Fernandel and Gino Cervi; the first was directed by Carmine Gallone (who also directed the fourth), while the previous two had been directed by Julien Duvivier.

The video shows the final, moving scene of the film, where Peppone is forced to choose whether to start a career as a deputy in Rome or stay in his village as a mayor, and only at the end will make his decision, after the poignant words of his friend-enemy Don Camillo.

A scene full of poetry, of other times maybe when mutual respect was the foundation of everything. It's in black and white, but it's easy to imagine to a blue sky, fresh spring air... a true masterpiece of Italian cinema, with actors capable of transmitting the genuine cheerfulness of times where the true values of life were still the most cherished ideals.