Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Il Conformista (The Conformist) (1970)

Director:   Bernardo Bertolucci
Writers:    Bernardo Bertolucci, Alberto Moravia (Novel)
Language: Italian
Bernardo Bertolucci's masterpiece film 'Il Conformista' is about a weak willed Italian man of wealthy family who becomes a Fascist flunky who goes aboard to arrange the assassination of his old teacher, a political dissident. Screenplay is based on Alberto Moravia's 1951 novel 'The Conformist'. The protagonist, Marcello, was harrased by his friends during his WW1 school years because of him belonging to a wealthy family and when grown up he longs for Normalcy and conformity which leads him to fascism. He develops feeling for his teacher's young wife and has second thoughts about his project.

The most striking aspect of the film is its cinematography done by Vittorio Storaro who went on to do 'Apocalypse Now'. There is one particular scene towards the end which takes your breath away. The fascist offices are shown huge beautiful halls.

Rating: 4.5/5

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