The Tree of Wooden Clogs is a 1978 Italian film directed by Ermanno Olmi. The film is set in the Lombardy region of Italy in the late 19th century and focuses on the lives of several families who live and work on a farm. The families are very poor and their survival depends on their ability to work hard on the farm and produce as much as possible.
One of the families has a young boy named Batisti, who is very bright and eager to learn. Despite the family's poverty, they decide to send Batisti to school so that he can have a better future. This decision is a difficult one, as it means that Batisti will have to walk several miles to get to school each day and will not be able to help on the farm as much.
The film follows the daily lives of the families on the farm, showing their struggles to survive and the hardships they endure. The families work long hours in the fields and have very little free time. They also have to deal with the landlord, who is strict and demanding, and who expects them to produce as much as possible.
As the seasons change, the families face new challenges. In the winter, they struggle to stay warm and keep their animals alive. In the spring, they plant their crops and hope for a good harvest. Throughout the film, we see the families' strong sense of community and the way they support each other through difficult times.
One of the most poignant scenes in the film is when Batisti's wooden shoes break on his long walk home from school. His family cannot afford to buy him new shoes, so his father decides to make him a new pair from a tree on the farm. The scene is a powerful reminder of the family's poverty and the sacrifices they make for their children.
Overall, The Tree of Wooden Clogs is a beautiful and moving film that captures the harsh realities of life on a farm in Italy at the turn of the century. It is a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit, and a reminder of the importance of community and family in times of hardship.
