A big welcome to the new disc company Radiance! This first CineSavant Radiance review is a knockout political drama from Italy’s Elio Petri, with one of the best performances ever by Gian-Maria Volontè. Model factory machinist Lulù Massa offends his peers on the assembly line with his individualistic egotism. An injury on the job makes him a focus for Unionists and student radicals. Petri’s warmly humanist picture is also blunt in its outlook — our imperfect hero is adrift in an unsatisfactory system, and the politicals’ agenda isn’t helpful either. It’s compelling filmmaking, co-starring Mariangela Melato and driven by an excellent Ennio Morricone music score.
The Working Class Goes to Heaven
Region B Blu-ray
Radiance (U.K.)
1971 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 115 min. / Street Date February 1, 2023 / La classe operaia va in paradiso, Lulù the Tool / Available from / £16.99
Starring: Gian Maria Volontè, Mariangela Melato, Salvo Randone, Mietta Albertini, Gino Pernice,...
The Working Class Goes to Heaven
Region B Blu-ray
Radiance (U.K.)
1971 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 115 min. / Street Date February 1, 2023 / La classe operaia va in paradiso, Lulù the Tool / Available from / £16.99
Starring: Gian Maria Volontè, Mariangela Melato, Salvo Randone, Mietta Albertini, Gino Pernice,...
- 1/7/2023
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
A new episode of The Arrow in the Head Show has just been released, and in this one our hosts John “The Arrow” Fallon and Lance Vlcek are looking back at a 1977 film that is often named as one of the all-time great horror classics: Dario Argento’s Suspiria (get it Here) and they also debate the remake! Director/Actor Joe Cornet also drops by to talk about his upcoming Giallo inspired film Night of the Caregiver and sexy thriller Kaleidoscope.
To hear Mr. Cornet discuss his films and find out what The Arrow and Lance had to say about Suspiria and its remake, check out the video embedded above.
Directed by Argento from a screenplay he wrote with Daria Nicolodi, inspired by Thomas De Quincey’s Suspiria de Profundis, Suspiria has the following synopsis:
Suzy travels to Germany to attend ballet school. When she arrives, late on a stormy night,...
To hear Mr. Cornet discuss his films and find out what The Arrow and Lance had to say about Suspiria and its remake, check out the video embedded above.
Directed by Argento from a screenplay he wrote with Daria Nicolodi, inspired by Thomas De Quincey’s Suspiria de Profundis, Suspiria has the following synopsis:
Suzy travels to Germany to attend ballet school. When she arrives, late on a stormy night,...
- 11/26/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
By Todd Garbarini
The year 1976 was a phenomenal time for films that went into production. George Lucas’s space opera, Star Wars began principal photography in March; Steven Spielberg, fresh off the success of Jaws, was given carte blanche to bring Close Encounters of the Third Kind to the screen and began shooting in May; and Dario Argento, who became emboldened by the financial success of his latest and arguably best film to date, Profundo Rosso (known in the U.S. as Deep Red), embarked upon Suspiria, a murder mystery involving a dance school hiding in plain sight while housing a coven of witches, which began filming in July. Horror author Clive Barker once described this supernatural extravaganza as what you would imagine a horror film to be like if you weren’t allowed to see it. I believe that this is a good description of what is unquestionably one of the most frightening,...
The year 1976 was a phenomenal time for films that went into production. George Lucas’s space opera, Star Wars began principal photography in March; Steven Spielberg, fresh off the success of Jaws, was given carte blanche to bring Close Encounters of the Third Kind to the screen and began shooting in May; and Dario Argento, who became emboldened by the financial success of his latest and arguably best film to date, Profundo Rosso (known in the U.S. as Deep Red), embarked upon Suspiria, a murder mystery involving a dance school hiding in plain sight while housing a coven of witches, which began filming in July. Horror author Clive Barker once described this supernatural extravaganza as what you would imagine a horror film to be like if you weren’t allowed to see it. I believe that this is a good description of what is unquestionably one of the most frightening,...
- 7/9/2019
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Now this is some awesome news, horror movie lovers.
The Chicago Cinema Society (via Dread Central) has announced it has discovered an uncut 35mm print of Dario Argento’s “Suspiria” that hasn’t been screened since at least 1978. The print was found in the storage room of a closed Italian movie theater and is in such good condition that it will be touring around the country this summer and fall.
Read More: ‘Suspiria’: Radiohead’s Thom Yorke to Score Luca Guadagnino’s Horror Remake
In an official message posted on their website, the Chicago Cinema Society wrote:
The Chicago Cinema Society is excited to announce that we have discovered an uncut Italian 35mm print of ‘Suspiria.’ The print was rescued from an Italian cinema that had closed down and the print had gone untouched in their storage area since 1977-78. After a brief inspection to assess the overall condition of the print, it appears as if it had only been screened a handful of times at most. The print is in excellent physical condition with no substantial wear, uncut heads and tails, minimal fading and no vinegar syndrome. Once we had the print in our film archive, we then made a very careful inspection to determine which version of ‘Suspiria’ we had obtained. We were stunned to find that the print is a completely uncut 6 reel print with a run time of 98 minutes in Italian language.
The discovery comes on the heels of a remake that is expected to hit theaters sometime this year. The new version is directed by Luca Guadagnino and stars Tilda Swinton, Dakota Johnson and Chloe Grace Moretz. The story follows an American ballet student who transfers to a prestigious dance academy in Germany and gets swept up in a series of supernatural murders. The original starred Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé.
You will be able to see the uncut 35mm print on the big screen at the following locations:
July 28: The Metrograph, New York City, NY
September 16: The Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, Tn
October 14: Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, Ma
October 26-27: Northwest Film Forum, Seattle, Wa
Early Fall: Venue confirmed and Tba, Los Angeles, CA
Late Fall: Music Box Theatre, Chicago, Il
The Chicago Cinema Society also uploaded five previews of the print on their YouTube page. You can watch them all below. Visit the theater websites for ticketing information.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Festivals newsletter here.
Related storiesEdgar Wright's 40 Favorite Movies Ever Made (Right Now): 'Boogie Nights,' 'Suspiria' and MoreThom Yorke Is 'Absolutely Terrified' To Be Composing His First Original Score For 'Suspiria''Suspiria': Radiohead's Thom Yorke to Score Luca Guadagnino's Horror Remake...
The Chicago Cinema Society (via Dread Central) has announced it has discovered an uncut 35mm print of Dario Argento’s “Suspiria” that hasn’t been screened since at least 1978. The print was found in the storage room of a closed Italian movie theater and is in such good condition that it will be touring around the country this summer and fall.
Read More: ‘Suspiria’: Radiohead’s Thom Yorke to Score Luca Guadagnino’s Horror Remake
In an official message posted on their website, the Chicago Cinema Society wrote:
The Chicago Cinema Society is excited to announce that we have discovered an uncut Italian 35mm print of ‘Suspiria.’ The print was rescued from an Italian cinema that had closed down and the print had gone untouched in their storage area since 1977-78. After a brief inspection to assess the overall condition of the print, it appears as if it had only been screened a handful of times at most. The print is in excellent physical condition with no substantial wear, uncut heads and tails, minimal fading and no vinegar syndrome. Once we had the print in our film archive, we then made a very careful inspection to determine which version of ‘Suspiria’ we had obtained. We were stunned to find that the print is a completely uncut 6 reel print with a run time of 98 minutes in Italian language.
The discovery comes on the heels of a remake that is expected to hit theaters sometime this year. The new version is directed by Luca Guadagnino and stars Tilda Swinton, Dakota Johnson and Chloe Grace Moretz. The story follows an American ballet student who transfers to a prestigious dance academy in Germany and gets swept up in a series of supernatural murders. The original starred Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé.
You will be able to see the uncut 35mm print on the big screen at the following locations:
July 28: The Metrograph, New York City, NY
September 16: The Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, Tn
October 14: Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, Ma
October 26-27: Northwest Film Forum, Seattle, Wa
Early Fall: Venue confirmed and Tba, Los Angeles, CA
Late Fall: Music Box Theatre, Chicago, Il
The Chicago Cinema Society also uploaded five previews of the print on their YouTube page. You can watch them all below. Visit the theater websites for ticketing information.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Festivals newsletter here.
Related storiesEdgar Wright's 40 Favorite Movies Ever Made (Right Now): 'Boogie Nights,' 'Suspiria' and MoreThom Yorke Is 'Absolutely Terrified' To Be Composing His First Original Score For 'Suspiria''Suspiria': Radiohead's Thom Yorke to Score Luca Guadagnino's Horror Remake...
- 6/21/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Can radical theater make a good movie? Elio Petri continues his string of biting social comment movies with a black comedy about rich people, thieves, and the notion of ownership — it’s a caustic position paper but also a funny satire, with quirky yet believable characters. Ugo Tognazzi is terrific as scheming capitalist, as much a prisoner of his wealth as a poor clerk is of his poverty.
Property is No Longer a Theft
Blu-ray + DVD
Arrow Video USA
1973 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 126 min. / Street Date March 28, 2017 / La proprietà non è più un furto / Available from Arrow Video / 39.95
Starring: Ugo Tognazzi, Flavio Bucci, Daria Nicolodi, Mario Scaccia, Orazio Orlando, Julien Guiomar, Cecilia Polizzi, Jacques Herlin, Ada Pometti, Salvo Randone.
Cinematography: Luigi Kuveiller
Film Editor: Ruggero Mastroianni
Original Music: Ennio Morricone
Production design / Costume design: Gianni Polidori
Written by Elio Petri, Ugo Pirro
Produced by Claudio Mancini
Directed by Elio Petri
Essere o Avere?...
Property is No Longer a Theft
Blu-ray + DVD
Arrow Video USA
1973 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 126 min. / Street Date March 28, 2017 / La proprietà non è più un furto / Available from Arrow Video / 39.95
Starring: Ugo Tognazzi, Flavio Bucci, Daria Nicolodi, Mario Scaccia, Orazio Orlando, Julien Guiomar, Cecilia Polizzi, Jacques Herlin, Ada Pometti, Salvo Randone.
Cinematography: Luigi Kuveiller
Film Editor: Ruggero Mastroianni
Original Music: Ennio Morricone
Production design / Costume design: Gianni Polidori
Written by Elio Petri, Ugo Pirro
Produced by Claudio Mancini
Directed by Elio Petri
Essere o Avere?...
- 4/8/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Tony Sokol Oct 4, 2016
Chloe Moretz, Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton are all joining the remake of Dario Argento's Suspiria...
“Bad luck isn't brought by broken mirrors, but by broken minds”. And a new generation of horror fans will get their brains broken in the upcoming remake of Dario Argento’s atmospheric giallo classic Suspiria.
Frenesy Film Company and Mythology Entertainment. the companies behind the new movie, have announced that Chloe Moretz will co-star with Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton and Mia Goth in the upcoming thriller.
Suspiria will be directed by A Bigger Splash’s Luca Guadagnino. The screenplay is being written by David Kajganich. The film will be distributed and produced by Amazon Studios.
The original 1977 Suspiria, which was written by Argento and Dario Nicoladi, told the story of a young American ballet dancer, played by Jessica Harper, who gets accepted at a prestigious dance academy in Germany. Shortly after she enrolls,...
Chloe Moretz, Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton are all joining the remake of Dario Argento's Suspiria...
“Bad luck isn't brought by broken mirrors, but by broken minds”. And a new generation of horror fans will get their brains broken in the upcoming remake of Dario Argento’s atmospheric giallo classic Suspiria.
Frenesy Film Company and Mythology Entertainment. the companies behind the new movie, have announced that Chloe Moretz will co-star with Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton and Mia Goth in the upcoming thriller.
Suspiria will be directed by A Bigger Splash’s Luca Guadagnino. The screenplay is being written by David Kajganich. The film will be distributed and produced by Amazon Studios.
The original 1977 Suspiria, which was written by Argento and Dario Nicoladi, told the story of a young American ballet dancer, played by Jessica Harper, who gets accepted at a prestigious dance academy in Germany. Shortly after she enrolls,...
- 10/3/2016
- Den of Geek
Stars: Irene Miracle, Laura D’Angelo, Flavio Bucci, Gianfranco De Grassi, Macha Méril, Enrico Maria Salerno, Marina Berti, Franco Fabrizi | Written by Roberto Infascelli, Renato Izzo, Aldo Lado, Ettore Sanzò | Directed by Aldo Lado
With some of the recent releases from 88 Films they’ve delved into the Video Nasty vaults and picked out a chosen few for Blu-ray releases. With Night Train Murders which is part of The Italian Collection we get Aldo Lado’s take on Last House on the Left which surprisingly manages to be more effective than Wes Craven’s infamous classic.
When Margaret (Irene Miracle) and Lisa (Laura D’Angelo) decide to take the train from Germany to Verona for a Christmas vacation to visit Lisa’s family. Catching the eye of two young men Blackie (Flavio Bucci) and Curly (Gianfranco De Grassi) at first they playfully flirt with them in a conversation that seems innocent enough.
With some of the recent releases from 88 Films they’ve delved into the Video Nasty vaults and picked out a chosen few for Blu-ray releases. With Night Train Murders which is part of The Italian Collection we get Aldo Lado’s take on Last House on the Left which surprisingly manages to be more effective than Wes Craven’s infamous classic.
When Margaret (Irene Miracle) and Lisa (Laura D’Angelo) decide to take the train from Germany to Verona for a Christmas vacation to visit Lisa’s family. Catching the eye of two young men Blackie (Flavio Bucci) and Curly (Gianfranco De Grassi) at first they playfully flirt with them in a conversation that seems innocent enough.
- 3/29/2015
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
Top 100 horror movies of all time: Chicago Film Critics' choices (photo: Sigourney Weaver and Alien creature show us that life is less horrific if you don't hold grudges) See previous post: A look at the Chicago Film Critics Association's Scariest Movies Ever Made. Below is the list of the Chicago Film Critics's Top 100 Horror Movies of All Time, including their directors and key cast members. Note: this list was first published in October 2006. (See also: Fay Wray, Lee Patrick, and Mary Philbin among the "Top Ten Scream Queens.") 1. Psycho (1960) Alfred Hitchcock; with Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam. 2. The Exorcist (1973) William Friedkin; with Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Jason Miller, Max von Sydow (and the voice of Mercedes McCambridge). 3. Halloween (1978) John Carpenter; with Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Tony Moran. 4. Alien (1979) Ridley Scott; with Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt. 5. Night of the Living Dead (1968) George A. Romero; with Marilyn Eastman,...
- 10/31/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
David Gordon Green, who knocked one out of the park with “Pineapple Express” before striking out twice in a roll with “Your Highness” and “The Sitter”, and who has been attached to remake Dario Argento’s 1977 Italian supernatural thriller “Suspiria”, is officially a go. Green, who was originally attached the the remake way back in 2009, will direct the film from a script he co-wrote with Chris Gebert. The original followed Suzy, a young, nubile American ballet dancer (originally played by Jessica Harper) who travels to Europe to attend a world renowned dance academy, where a series of brutal murders take place and our heroine discovers that her school may, in fact, just be a front for something much more wicked. Heck, I could say that about all my schools, but I digress. The original also starred Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé, and genre fave Udo Kier. Argento has said...
- 4/10/2012
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
After recuperating from two big releases this October, Blue Underground are hitting the ground running in January of 2012 with original Video Nasty, Night Train Murders.You Can Tell Yourself It's Only A Movie... But It Won't Help!It was released as Second House On The Left, New House On The Left, and Torture Train. The ads screamed, "Most movies last less than two hours! This is one of everlasting torment!" It remains one of the most graphically fiendish films in exploitation history, the story of two teenage girls traveling through Europe, forced into a nightmare of sexual assault and sadistic violence.Irene Miracle (Inferno, Midnight Express), Flavio Bucci (Suspiria), Macha Meril (Deep Red), and Marina Berti (What Have They Done To Your Daughters?) star in this depraved...
- 11/16/2011
- Screen Anarchy
By Fred Burdsall (Part III of Fred’s “What Makes You a Fan” series)
My first glimpse into the world of European horror was, as usual, my mother’s fault. I came in after playing baseball and she told me to “put on 17.” I did, and was treated to the last 10 minutes of The Deep Red Hatchet Murders (Profondo Rosso). I had no idea what I was watching, but I liked what I saw and made a mental note of the title and director. Now, I am not a big fan of change, so I may have been the last guy in the city to get a Vcr, but once I did it was not long before I remembered that little snippet from Deep Red. Unfortunately, it was not on the shelf, but Suspiria was—and things would never be the same for me.
(Fright fans unacaquainted with Suspiria–beware!
My first glimpse into the world of European horror was, as usual, my mother’s fault. I came in after playing baseball and she told me to “put on 17.” I did, and was treated to the last 10 minutes of The Deep Red Hatchet Murders (Profondo Rosso). I had no idea what I was watching, but I liked what I saw and made a mental note of the title and director. Now, I am not a big fan of change, so I may have been the last guy in the city to get a Vcr, but once I did it was not long before I remembered that little snippet from Deep Red. Unfortunately, it was not on the shelf, but Suspiria was—and things would never be the same for me.
(Fright fans unacaquainted with Suspiria–beware!
- 3/29/2010
- by Movies Unlimited
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
See the trailer for Music Box Films' "Il divo," starring Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Giulio Bosetti, Flavio Bucci and Carlo Buccirosso. Paolo Sorrentino ("The Family Friend," "The Consequences of Love") directs and writes the foreign drama which was the Jury Prize winner at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. See the trailer here. What's "Il divo" about? In Rome, at dawn, when everyone is sleeping, one man is awake. That man is Giulio Andreotti. He's awake because he has to work, write books, move in fashionable circles and, last but not least, pray. Calm, crafty and inscrutable, Andreotti is synonym of power in Italy for over four decades. At the beginning of the Nineties, this impassive yet insinuating, ambiguous yet reassuring figure appears set to assume his seventh mandate as Prime Minister without arrogance and without humility. Approaching seventy, Andreotti is a gerontocrat who, with all the attributes of God, is afraid...
- 4/17/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See the trailer for Music Box Films' "Il divo," starring Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Giulio Bosetti, Flavio Bucci and Carlo Buccirosso. Paolo Sorrentino ("The Family Friend," "The Consequences of Love") directs and writes the foreign drama which was the Jury Prize winner at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. In Rome, at dawn, when everyone is sleeping, one man is awake. That man is Giulio Andreotti. He's awake because he has to work, write books, move in fashionable circles and, last but not least, pray. Calm, crafty and inscrutable, Andreotti is synonym of power in Italy for over four decades. At the beginning of the Nineties, this impassive yet insinuating, ambiguous yet reassuring figure appears set to assume his seventh mandate as Prime Minister without arrogance and without humility. ..
- 4/17/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See the trailer for Music Box Films' "Il divo," starring Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Giulio Bosetti, Flavio Bucci and Carlo Buccirosso. Paolo Sorrentino ("The Family Friend," "The Consequences of Love") directs and writes the foreign drama which was the Jury Prize winner at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. In Rome, at dawn, when everyone is sleeping, one man is awake. That man is Giulio Andreotti. He's awake because he has to work, write books, move in fashionable circles and, last but not least, pray. Calm, crafty and inscrutable, Andreotti is synonym of power in Italy for over four decades. At the beginning of the Nineties, this impassive yet insinuating, ambiguous yet reassuring figure appears set to assume his seventh mandate as Prime Minister without arrogance and without humility. ..
- 4/17/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
We love indie film. The passion of the filmmakers, raw talent with no spfx running on low-budget fuel. Now, we offer up images from Music Box Films "Il Divo," a biographical drama helmed and written by Paolo Sorrentino which stars Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Piera Degli Esposti, Paolo Graziosi, Giulio Bosetti, Giulio Bosetti and Flavio Bucci. The film is a winner of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival's Jury Prize and nominee of the Golden Palm Award. Sorrentino's previous credits include "L'Amico di famiglia," a 2006 Cannes Film Festival Golden Palm Award nominee. See all the images in the gallery for "Il Divo." What's it about? In Rome, at dawn, when everyone is sleeping, one man is awake. That man is Giulio Andreotti. He's awake because he has to work, write books, move in fashionable circles and, last but not least, pray. Calm, crafty and inscrutable, Andreotti is synonym of power in Italy for over four decades.
- 3/20/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
We love indie film. The passion of the filmmakers, raw talent with no spfx running on low-budget fuel. Now, we offer up images from Music Box Films "Il Divo," a biographical drama helmed and written by Paolo Sorrentino which stars Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Piera Degli Esposti, Paolo Graziosi, Giulio Bosetti, Giulio Bosetti and Flavio Bucci. The film is a winner of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival's Jury Prize and nominee of the Golden Palm Award. Sorrentino's previ...
- 3/20/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
We love indie film. The passion of the filmmakers, raw talent with no spfx running on low-budget fuel. Now, we offer up images from Music Box Films "Il Divo," a biographical drama helmed and written by Paolo Sorrentino which stars Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Piera Degli Esposti, Paolo Graziosi, Giulio Bosetti, Giulio Bosetti and Flavio Bucci. The film is a winner of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival's Jury Prize and nominee of the Golden Palm Award. Sorrentino's previ...
- 3/20/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Cannes, In Competition
CANNES -- At long last in this year's Cannes Competition, a film on a serious subject that nevertheless consistently entertains and often makes you laugh out loud. Subtitled "The Spectacular Life of Giulio Andreotti," the frequently outrageous "Il Divo" follows the career of one of the best-known and most tenacious figures in Italian political history in a lively, sensory-overload, cartoonlike fashion reminiscent of "Amelie" and "Moulin Rouge". The fact that it's often over-the-top goes with saying, and is part of the fun.
The big question is how well the film will play to audiences outside of Italy, since even in its home territory many viewers will be baffled by the overwhelming cast of characters and the sheer complexity of Andreotti's many entanglements. It's a shame that this wildly exuberant, brilliantly crafted film will probably never get the worldwide exposure, in any format, that it clearly deserves.
Andreotti, part of the Christian Democrat government since immediately after World War II and -- despite being beset by multiple scandals and criminal trials -- still going strong, was Italy's prime minister a record seven times. Director Sorrentino wisely concentrates on his seventh and final government (1991-92), as well as his more recent barrage of legal problems, in an undoubtedly vain attempt to keep his material under control.
The Divo is relentlessly caricatured and made fun of from the film's opening titles, presumably on the theory that invincible power can only be challenged by laughter. (It's also clear that Andreotti's larger-than-life personality is intended to make audiences think of the equally egregious Silvio Berlusconi, the recently elected third-time prime minister and a despised figure in Italian cultural and artistic circles.)
However, one of the best things about the film is that on the questions that really matter -- was Andreotti involved with the Mafia and with the murder of journalist Mino Pecorelli? -- it always allows Andreotti equal time to make his case and takes pains to point out that he has been acquitted every time he's been on trial.
The closest Sorrentino comes to revealing the heart of the man is in his exploration of the death of party colleague Aldo Moro at the hands of the Red Brigades in 1978, 50 days after he was kidnapped, a miscalculation by Andreotti and his Christian Democrat colleagues that has haunted them ever since.
Toni Servillo does a magnificent job of interpreting, or rather channeling, Andreotti -- down to his trademark stiff slouch, dour, unrevealing face and devastating one-liners. Andreotti's many sidekicks and hangers-on are played with equal serio-comic intensity by a talented cast that will be largely unknown to audiences outside Italy.
The music is another memorable part of the film, ranging from Faure's haunting "Pavane" to Vivaldi, Saint-Saens and Sibelius, and features original, often stunning music by Teho Teardo. Production companies: Indigo Film, Lucky Red, Parco Film
Cast: Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Giulio Bosetti, Flavio Bucci, Carlo Buccirosso, Giorgio Colangeli, Alberto Cracco, Piera Degli Esposti; Director: Paolo Sorrentino; Screenwriter: Paolo Sorrentino; Producers: Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima, Andrea Occhipinti, Maurizio Coppolecchia
Director of photography: Luca Bigazzi; Production designer: Lino Fiorito; Costume designer: Daniela Ciancio; Editor: Cristiano Travaglioli.
Sales: Beta Film
No MPAA rating, 117 minutes.
CANNES -- At long last in this year's Cannes Competition, a film on a serious subject that nevertheless consistently entertains and often makes you laugh out loud. Subtitled "The Spectacular Life of Giulio Andreotti," the frequently outrageous "Il Divo" follows the career of one of the best-known and most tenacious figures in Italian political history in a lively, sensory-overload, cartoonlike fashion reminiscent of "Amelie" and "Moulin Rouge". The fact that it's often over-the-top goes with saying, and is part of the fun.
The big question is how well the film will play to audiences outside of Italy, since even in its home territory many viewers will be baffled by the overwhelming cast of characters and the sheer complexity of Andreotti's many entanglements. It's a shame that this wildly exuberant, brilliantly crafted film will probably never get the worldwide exposure, in any format, that it clearly deserves.
Andreotti, part of the Christian Democrat government since immediately after World War II and -- despite being beset by multiple scandals and criminal trials -- still going strong, was Italy's prime minister a record seven times. Director Sorrentino wisely concentrates on his seventh and final government (1991-92), as well as his more recent barrage of legal problems, in an undoubtedly vain attempt to keep his material under control.
The Divo is relentlessly caricatured and made fun of from the film's opening titles, presumably on the theory that invincible power can only be challenged by laughter. (It's also clear that Andreotti's larger-than-life personality is intended to make audiences think of the equally egregious Silvio Berlusconi, the recently elected third-time prime minister and a despised figure in Italian cultural and artistic circles.)
However, one of the best things about the film is that on the questions that really matter -- was Andreotti involved with the Mafia and with the murder of journalist Mino Pecorelli? -- it always allows Andreotti equal time to make his case and takes pains to point out that he has been acquitted every time he's been on trial.
The closest Sorrentino comes to revealing the heart of the man is in his exploration of the death of party colleague Aldo Moro at the hands of the Red Brigades in 1978, 50 days after he was kidnapped, a miscalculation by Andreotti and his Christian Democrat colleagues that has haunted them ever since.
Toni Servillo does a magnificent job of interpreting, or rather channeling, Andreotti -- down to his trademark stiff slouch, dour, unrevealing face and devastating one-liners. Andreotti's many sidekicks and hangers-on are played with equal serio-comic intensity by a talented cast that will be largely unknown to audiences outside Italy.
The music is another memorable part of the film, ranging from Faure's haunting "Pavane" to Vivaldi, Saint-Saens and Sibelius, and features original, often stunning music by Teho Teardo. Production companies: Indigo Film, Lucky Red, Parco Film
Cast: Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Giulio Bosetti, Flavio Bucci, Carlo Buccirosso, Giorgio Colangeli, Alberto Cracco, Piera Degli Esposti; Director: Paolo Sorrentino; Screenwriter: Paolo Sorrentino; Producers: Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima, Andrea Occhipinti, Maurizio Coppolecchia
Director of photography: Luca Bigazzi; Production designer: Lino Fiorito; Costume designer: Daniela Ciancio; Editor: Cristiano Travaglioli.
Sales: Beta Film
No MPAA rating, 117 minutes.
- 5/23/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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