Synopsis: In 1930's an Italian fascist goes to Paris to assassinate his old teacher, but his convictions waver
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Actors: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Stefania Sandrelli, Dominique Sanda
Date: 1970
How viewed: Already in my collection
Rating: 4/5
David Meyer says:
Bertolucci presents his favourite themes: alienation, sexual confusion, Oedipal rage, incredible risks to slake momentary lust, self-delusion, really nice clothes, exquisite interiors, styles of the 1930s, the looming architecture of Paris, the allure/danger of women, and the anguishes and gratifications of betrayal.
I say:
Virtually every scene is stunning, but for me, the film was let down by the dialogue. It felt almost badly dubbed, despite the fact that they all appear to be speaking English, strange. Jean-Louis Trintignant plays a man who sees himself as different, but wants to be normal, to conform, to be one of the crowd, but having joined the Fascist movement in Rome, he goes to Paris to assassinate his old Professor, under cover of his honeymoon. However, he falls in love with the Professor's wife, and whilst he baulks at assassinating him himself, sets up the fatal ambush in which both the Professor and his wife are killed. It's hard to follow at first, as most of the film is in flashbacks which flesh out the back stories and characters, and whilst most of the pieces slowly come together, you are still left with some queries, like, why at the end of one scene does the camera zoom in on a picture of Laurel and Hardy!
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