Il conformista (1970)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Bernardo Bertolucci

Writers:

Bernardo Bertolucci (writer)
Alberto Moravia (novel)

Release Date:

1971 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Bertolucci's Masterpiece about Sex and Politics [re-release]

Plot:

A weak-willed Italian man becomes a fascist flunky who goes abroad to arrange the assassination of his old teacher, now a political dissident.

Plot Keywords:

Italy | Fascist | Paris | Political | Assassination

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Jean-Louis Trintignant	...	Marcello Clerici (as Jean Louis Trintignant)
Stefania Sandrelli	...	Giulia
Gastone Moschin	...	Manganiello
Enzo Tarascio	...	Professor Quadri
Fosco Giachetti	...	Il colonnello
José Quaglio	...	Italo
Dominique Sanda	...	Anna Quadri
Pierre Clémenti	...	Lino
Yvonne Sanson	...	Madre di Giulia
Milly	...	Madre di Marcello
Giuseppe Addobbati	...	Padre di Marcello
Christian Aligny	...	Raoul (as Christian Alegny)
Carlo Gaddi	...	Hired Killer
Umberto Silvestri	...	Hired Killer
Furio Pellerani	...	Hired Killer

Also Known As:

Der Konformist (West Germany)
Der große Irrtum (West Germany)
Le conformiste (France)
The Conformist (USA)

Runtime:

107 min | 111 min (1995 Restoration)

Country:

Italy | France | West Germany

Language:

Italian | French | Latin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | West Germany:18 (f) | UK:15 (2007 re-rating) | Australia:MA | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Gare d'Orsay, Paris 7, Paris, France

Company:

Mars Film

Trivia:

The Latin phrase recited by Clerici on his way to kill the Quadris was "Animula, vagula, blandula, hospes comesque corporis", the first line of a poem attributed to the Roman emperor Hadrian.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When young Marcello shoots up Lino's room, the squibs are clearly visible in the walls before they explode.

Quotes:

Italo: A normal man? For me, a normal man is one who turns his head to see a beautiful woman's bottom. The point is not just to turn your head. There are five or six reasons. And he is glad to find people who are like him, his equals. That's why he likes crowded beaches, football, the bar downtown...
Marcello: At Piazza Venice.
Italo: He likes people similar to himself and does not trust those who are different. That's why a normal man is a true brother, a true citizen, a true patriot...
Marcello: A true fascist.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Clueless (1995)

An essential for film buffs.

_Il Conformista_, directed by Bertolucci, contains some of the most original shots ever put on film as well as a story that makes you think about the importance of loyalty.

Jean-Louis Trintignant plays Marcello Clerici, a man scarred by a homosexual encounter in his youth. Attempting to regain a normal life by trying to fit into the Italian Fascist State, he is required to betray and kill his favorite "liberal" college professor. This is what compels us to keep watching--can Clerici go through with this ultimate betrayal? If he does, what are the consequences?

The best parts of the film, though, are the uniquely chosen and symbolic shots. One that stands out in my mind is a scene where Marcello is caught in the middle of a swirling dance by his wife, his professors wife, and the patrons of a nightclub/restaurant. This symbolizes his inability to fit in with any aspects of his life. Bertolucci continues his knack for symbolism throughout the film without spoiling the flow of the story. In all, a must-see for people interested in how films can visually convey how a character is feeling.