Mural: Mr. Deeds and Babe

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🏛️ TAPP 8
Via Decano Don Calogero Di Vincenti, 87
MURALMR. DEEDS AND BABE – Theic

Now go down the stairs of the amphitheater behind you to look at a work signed by Camilo Nuñez, aka Theic, an artist of Uruguayan origin who now lives and works in Lisbon, Portugal.

Theic is known for his realistic style and strong references to classical painting and ancient mythology-Greek, Egyptian, and Roman. His works always put the human figure at the center, and in them pictorial technique and the use of color are fundamental to achieving a powerful and emotional effect.

Here, on one of the perimeter walls of Bisacquino’s amphitheater, Theic has created a scene from the film “Happiness Has Arrived“(Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, 1936), one of the most representative titles in Frank Capra’s filmography, considered one of the undisputed masterpieces of American cinema.
It is a fable about real life, founded on the depth of feelings against a merely capitalist mentality. Mr. Deeds, a simple country boy, inherits a large sum of money, he, a fool, decides to share the money with the urban poor and stay to live in simplicity. As in any self-respecting comedy, love creeps in: a journalist will eventually fall in love with him and help him defend himself against those who want to have him banned.

In front of you you can observe the moment of the meeting between Mr. Deeds and journalist Babe Bennett: the two characters are sitting on a night bench, an intimate and simple place, where pure happiness is manifested, made only of presence and authenticity.

The mural was made right on the perimeter wall of the municipal amphitheater, and it blends perfectly into the context. The perspective, colors, and arrangement of the figures help create a sense of closeness between the protagonists, which is also reflected in the viewer.

If you move sideways, you can notice how the space of the work seems to expand, transforming an urban corner into a cinematic scene.
Well, did you know that it was with this film that Capra got his first Oscar for best director? It was 1937, and that recognition marked the beginning of a series of great successes that would set the standard for world cinema. With Mr. Deeds, Capra affirmed a powerful message: simplicity is a revolutionary force, capable of changing the rules of power.