Defying the conventions of heroes and villains,The Great Silencewas released in 1968 and directed by Sergio Corbucci.The Great Silencecircumvents the expectations of traditionalWesterns. Featuring Jean-Louis Trintignant and Klaus Kinski,The Great Silencepresents a story of revenge and retribution set against the backdrop of an unforgiving wilderness. Crucial to the presentation and execution of the film is a world where right and wrong aren’t so easily defined.
An Unforgiving Nature
The majority of Western films thrive on the dichotomy between good and evil. However, from the film’s opening moments, Corbucci makes it apparent that this isn’t the only theme that will be central to his effort.The Great Silencetakes place in Utah, where the snow-covered landscapes are desolate, cold, and unforgiving. Conspicuous by their absence are the high plains and desert that have permeated the genre since its inception. The setting matches the cold and unforgiving tone of the film, as outlaws, bounty hunters, and lawmen square off with one another in a world thatLoco (Klaus Kinski)perfectly describes as ruled by “the law of survival.” There’s a Darwinistic undertone in the film itself: the survival of the fittest.
The treacherous landscapes that dominateThe Great Silenceare brought to life through the efforts of cinematographer Silvano Ippoliti. His camerawork serves a dual role in capturing the unforgiving winter wasteland and the characters' struggles. Broad, sweeping shots establish the expansive locations that are desolate and treacherous. These are equally matched with the images of violence, revenge, and retribution that will take place throughout the film.
Establishing the dichotomy of good and evil inThe Great Silenceis done early on. A group of outlaws on the run is confronted by bounty hunters, who are readily dispatched at the hands of Silence (Jean-Louis Trintignant). Silence is depicted as something of a local legend and folk hero, a mute gunslinger who hunts and protects those on the run from the bounty hunters tasked with collecting the prices on their heads. An altruistic hero who only shoots in self-defense, he’s similar to Clint Eastwood inA Fistful of Dollars,right down to a cigar and a no-nonsense demeanor. Instead of “the man with no name”, Silence is “the man with no voice.”
If Silence is the epitome of altruistic justice, fighting for the downtrodden and oppressed, his nemesis couldn’t be more different. Bounty Hunter Loco (Klaus Kinski) is the complete opposite. Calculating and sadistic, Loco’s motivation is completely monetary and feeds his ruthless efficiency in gunning down those wanted by the law. Loco uses any means at his disposal to obtain his quarry. The nature of Silence and Loco is strengthened by supporting characters who help establish their individual motivations. Silence is aided by Sheriff Gideon Burnett (Frank Wolff), who wants the bounty hunters’ killing spree to stop and reestablish law and order. On the other hand, Loco is aided by banker Henry Pollicut (Luigi Pistilli), which establishes an underlying theme ofcorruption among the bounty hunters.
Subverting Expectations and Blurring Lines
The Great Silencetakes expectations and tosses them aside for the sake of deconstruction and subversion. As the narrative unfolds, with Silence’s tragic backstory of having his throat cut at a young age being revealed and a romance with Pauline (Vonetta McGee), a woman whose husband is hunted down and killed by Loco, there’s an expectation that he will prevail. Every aspect of the narrative is set up to elicit an emotional response from the audience to cheer Silence on as a conquering hero who is expected to win the day.
As is the case with so many real stories in the history of the West, the “good guy” winning isn’t the scenario that Corbucci gives his audience. The climax of the film, which sees Silence, Pauline, and the group of outlaws he saved at the beginning of the film all gunned down by Loco and his group of bounty hunters, goes against normal expectations. Fans of the modern Western will certainly see the influence thatThe Great Silencehad on Clint Eastwood’sUnforgivenseveral years later.
A question comes into play regarding the definition of “good’ and “evil” inThe Great Silence. Silence is presented as the clear-cut protagonist, and Loco, the antagonist. However, these definitions aren’t as rigidly defined as we might think. Silence is someone who prevents criminals from being brought to justice. Loco is tracking down individuals who have broken the law and are wanted fugitives. The intentions of both characters don’t define their nature, but how they go about accomplishing their tasks.The Great Silencemakes good and evil subjective terms, forcing us to take a closer look at how they’re defined.
The Great Silenceis a near-perfect example of deconstruction and subversion, while presenting a saga of retribution set against a backdrop just as unforgiving as the subjects it explores. All art is subjective. When two of the most basic concepts, such as good and evil, become difficult to distinguish, it forces objective thought on the part of the audience. Some Westerns cater to the expectation of evil being vanquished.The Great Silencereminds us that these concepts aren’t as rigidly defined as we might think, and there are blurred lines between them.
StreamThe Great Silenceon Prime Video and Kanopy.
