The Hawks and the Sparrows (1966) in Color — Starring Totò & Ninetto Davoli

The Hawks and the Sparrows (1966) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover The Hawks and the Sparrows (Uccellacci e uccellini), the 1966 Italian film directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini and starring Totò and Ninetto Davoli, now available as a professionally colorized version. This unique allegorical film follows a man and his son on a surreal journey through life with a talking crow that spouts social and political philosophy. Blending comedy, allegory, and social commentary, this film represents one of Pasolini’s most accessible works, using the framework of a fable to explore themes of Marxism, capitalism, and the human condition. Originally titled Uccellacci e uccellini. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00. En couleur.

Plot Summary

Innocenti and his father, Totò, are walking along a desolate road when they encounter a talking crow who begins to narrate the story of two Franciscan friars, Saint Francis and Saint Domenico, who in the 13th century preached to the birds. The crow’s tale serves as an allegory for the film’s exploration of human nature and social systems. The friars’ attempts to convert the birds — the hawks representing the powerful and predatory, the sparrows representing the common and vulnerable — mirror the film’s examination of class struggle and ideological conflict.

The film alternates between the medieval story of the friars and the modern journey of Innocenti and Totò. In the medieval sequences, the hawks refuse to renounce their predatory nature, arguing that it is their God-given right to hunt the sparrows. The sparrows, meanwhile, debate whether to accept the friars’ message of peace and brotherhood or to maintain their natural instinct to survive. The friaries’ attempts to bring about a peaceful coexistence between the birds fail, demonstrating the difficulty of overcoming natural instincts and entrenched power structures.

In the modern sequences, Innocenti and Totò continue their walk through the Italian countryside, encountering various characters and situations that reflect the themes of the crow’s allegory. They meet a poor farmer, a wealthy landowner, and various other figures who represent different social classes and attitudes toward power and justice. The talking crow continues to offer philosophical commentary, blending Marxist analysis with absurdist humor. The journey becomes a meditation on the persistence of inequality and the difficulty of creating a just society in a world where the strong naturally prey on the weak.

The film builds to a climax as the medieval and modern narratives converge, suggesting that the fundamental dynamics of power and exploitation have changed little across the centuries. The hawks still hunt the sparrows, the powerful still exploit the vulnerable, and ideological systems struggle to overcome the basic realities of human nature. Yet the film ends on a note of tentative hope, suggesting that awareness of these dynamics is the first step toward change, however difficult that change may be.

Cast & Crew

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini

Stars: Totò, Ninetto Davoli, Femi Benussi, Umberto Bevilacqua, Renato Capogna, Alfredo Leggi, Renato Montalbano, Flaminia Siciliano, Lena Lin Solaro, Giovanni Tarallo

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The Hawks and the Sparrows was originally filmed in black and white, with cinematography that captured the stark beauty of the Italian countryside and the desolate landscapes through which the protagonists journey. This professionally colorized restoration enhances every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the golden fields and dusty roads of rural Italy to the medieval sequences where the friars preach to the birds. The colorized version reveals new visual richness in the allegorical sequences, where the contrast between the natural world and the human world becomes even more apparent. Totò, one of Italy’s greatest comedians, gains additional dimension in color, his expressive face and physical comedy enhanced by the visual detail. The Italian countryside settings gain authentic beauty in color, with the blue sky, golden wheat, and green fields creating a visually stunning backdrop for the philosophical journey. Now also available en couleur.

Buy The Hawks and the Sparrows in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1966, The Hawks and the Sparrows (Uccellacci e uccellini) represents Pier Paolo Pasolini’s attempt to create a politically engaged film that could reach a broad audience while maintaining his artistic vision. Pasolini, one of Italy’s most important and controversial filmmakers, was known for films that explored sexuality, politics, and religion with unflinching honesty. This film, more accessible than his other works of the period, uses the framework of a fable to explore Marxist themes of class struggle and the persistence of inequality across history.

Totò, a legendary Italian comedian known for his work in neorealist comedies and popular films, gives one of his final performances in this film. His collaboration with Pasolini, who had previously cast him in “La ricotta” (1963), represents a meeting of two very different Italian cultural traditions — the popular, mass entertainment of Totò’s comedy and the intellectual, avant-garde cinema of Pasolini. Ninetto Davoli, Pasolini’s frequent collaborator and protégé, plays the son with a natural charm that balances Totò’s more theatrical style. Their relationship on screen mirrors the father-son dynamic that would become a recurring theme in Pasolini’s work.

The film’s structure, alternating between medieval allegory and modern reality, reflects Pasolini’s belief that history repeats itself and that the fundamental dynamics of power and exploitation persist across time. The talking crow, a device that could have been purely comic, becomes a vehicle for serious philosophical and political commentary, blending humor with intellectual rigor. The film’s exploration of Marxist themes through the allegory of birds preying on each other makes complex ideas accessible without reducing them to simple propaganda. Through modern colorization, this unique example of Pasolini’s cinema reaches new audiences who can appreciate its blend of comedy, allegory, and political insight.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Italian original mono
• Runtime: 90 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: What is the original Italian title of The Hawks and the Sparrows?
A: The film was originally titled Uccellacci e uccellini, which translates to “The Big Birds and the Little Birds.” The title refers to the hawks and sparrows in the allegory, representing the powerful and the vulnerable in society.

Q: Who stars in The Hawks and the Sparrows?
A: Totò, one of Italy’s greatest comedians, stars alongside Ninetto Davoli, Pasolini’s frequent collaborator. Their relationship as father and son on screen mirrors the film’s themes of generational transmission of values.

Q: Is The Hawks and the Sparrows a political film?
A: Yes, the film is explicitly political, using the allegory of birds to explore Marxist themes of class struggle and the persistence of inequality. The talking crow serves as a vehicle for social and political philosophy throughout the film.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as MP4 and MKV files that play on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

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