Italian reissue skewers family's hypocrisy

"We're not millionaires or barons. Our only treasure is our good name", says patriarch Don Vincenso (Saro Urzi) in "Seduced and Abandoned". It's a philosophy most people live by, but to him, it's more of a duty. As a result, he and his family are thrown into a series of emotionally distressing yet comedic events, sparked by the affair between his daughter Matilde's fiancé, Peppino (Aldo Puglisi) and his other daughter, Agnese (Stefania Sandrelli). Pietro Germi, who also wrote and directed "Divorce-Italian Style", offers another clever and amusing satire which provides a glimpse into the idiosyncrasies of Italian family values and traditions during the 1960's in small-town Sicily. \nIn addition, the film also makes light of the hypocrisies of the legal system and the scrutinizing townspeople which surround them. Like the typical Italian father, Don Vincenso is tense, cautious and extremely protective when it comes to his daughters. His daughter Matilde is set to marry Peppino, a young man from the village who is in college studying medicine and hoping to get a job in Rome. However, Peppino can't resist pursuing another of Don Vincenso's daughters, Agnese. She's seduced by Peppino while the rest of the family is sleeping on a hot summer's day, and gives in to Peppino's advancements without much hesitation. \nAfter the piece of a torn letter is discovered by Agnese's mother, which serves as a clue, the family's patience and tenacity are tested as they attempt to fix the shameful situation through attempted murder, forced marriages, blackmail, and kidnapping -- all in the name of family honor, of course. Several instances of misery and failure occur, and it's pretty easy to see how delusional these families are as they walk around town with their lawyers by their sides and their heads held high. \nPietro Germi's characters and the scenarios they put themselves in are delightfully silly and ironic. And although misdirected, one can't help but sympathize and admire patriarch Don Vincenso's nerve and determination. He keeps the humorous misadventures going in this tale of a family that's so concerned with reputation they don't realize their sacrifices are all detrimental, vain, and superficial. \nThis new Criterion Collection release features a newly restored hi-definiton digital transfer of the film, interviews with screenwriters Furon Scarpelli and Luciano Vincenzoni, Italian film scholar Mario Sesti and actors Stefania Sandrelli and Lando Buzzanca. It also includes Stefania Sandrelli's screen test, a theatrical trailer, a new and improved English subtitle translation, and an essay by film scholar Irene Bignardi.