``1900'' A magnificent modern history of Italy that transcends the boundaries between documentary and fiction.

The painting used for the title background, “The Fourth Estate”

For Bertolucci, 1900 was a brutal experience.

"I was physically and mentally exhausted, but I also became more mature. I realized that producers, in addition to their direct material interests, also have financial and emotional expectations at stake. These expectations are just as complex, powerful and persistent as those of a film director."*

However, when one looks over Bertolucci's filmography, it is clear that this film was meant to be made. His works such as " The Night of the Revolution " (1964), " The Assassin's Opera " (1970), " The Conformist " (1970), and " The Last Emperor " (1987) were historical films, but at the same time, they were films that loudly proclaimed "revolution." Behind Bertolucci's elegant direction, his communist political stance is strongly reflected. And this film also proclaims the victory of the working class over the capital class, i.e., revolution, tracing the half century from 1900 to 1945.

"1900" (c)Photofest / Getty Images

The opening credits are symbolic. The painting used in the title sequence is "The Fourth Estate" (Il Quarto Stato) by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo, published in 1901. The long horizontal canvas depicts the working class, the fourth estate after the aristocracy, clergy, and middle class (citizens). The image of the working class marching with firm steps, rising up against the exploitation and oppression of capitalists, became a symbol of the radical socialists of the time. Bertolucci's thoughts are condensed into this one painting.

The original title of this film is "Novecento", which means 1900 in Italian. However, it was released overseas under the title "1900", which Bertolucci was very unhappy about. He probably wanted to emphasize that the 20th century was an era of revolution and the victory of the working class.

What is “poetically expressed ideology”?