The Conformist (Extended Edition) | Jean-Louis Trintignant, Stefania Sandrelli

The Conformist (Extended Edition) | Jean-Louis Trintignant, Stefania Sandrelli | A Disturbing Quest for Normalcy Amid the Elegance of Inter-War Europe.

DVDs:

The Conformist (Ex...

	The Conformist (Extended Edition) Jean-Louis Trintignant, Stefania Sandrelli Paramount, 2006 average customer review:based on 65 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The Conformist

Based on a novel by Alberto Moravia, Bertolucci's provocative, dramatic thriller explores the twisted psychology of Mussolini-era Fascism and its eventual demise as played out in the assassination drama of Marcello, who becomes perversely attracted to his target's bisexual wife, the alluring Anna (Dominique Sanda). Bertolucci's handling of the interlocking flashbacks, his exquisite sense of pacing, and the wonderfully fluid camerawork of lensman Vittorio Storaro all lend an additional harmony to this fascinating Technicolor tale of doomed decadence and latent desire in Fascist Italy. And what about that sizzling Sanda-Sandrelli tango?

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A Disturbing Quest for Normalcy Amid the Elegance of Inter-War Europe.

"The Conformist" was Bernardo Bertolucci's first real masterpiece, where his editing style matured, thanks to Franco Arcalli. Bertolucci adapted the screenplay from Alberto Moravia's novel of the same name. Where the naturalistic tones and lack of visual contrivance typical in the cinema of the early 1970s can look amateurish or flat today, "The Conformist" exudes visual power through Vittorio Storaro's contrasting light and shadows and Ferdinando Scarfiotti's art direction. The sensuous glamour of 1930s Paris accentuates this powerful story of the Conformist, a man driven by his intense desire for normalcy in spite of his own nature, at a time when conformity meant fascism.

In Mussolini's Italy of the 1930s, Marcello Clerici (Jean-Louis Trintignant) intends to construct a "normal" life to ease his constant feelings of otherness. He proposes marriage to Guilia (Stefania Sandrelli), a frivolous young petite bourgeoise. He disposes of his mother's drug-dealing lover. He joins the Secret Police to ferret out the nonconformists. He is assigned the task of assassinating an anti-fascist expatriate living in Paris, where he and Guilia will be honeymooning. The man is Professor Quadri (Enzo Tarascio), whom Marcello knew as a student. But just as Marcello despises dissent and individualism, he is irresistibly drawn to it in the form of Quadri's beautiful and daring young wife Anna (Dominque Sanda).

Shifts in time early in the movie are disconcerting, but the unease created by the discontinuity echoes Marcello's discomfort with his own nature. Bertolucci has changed the ending. I might have preferred the ending from the book, though they both express futility. The bachelor party scene actually did not make the "final" cut, but was unearthed and added to the DVD version. Though it is a curious scene, I could have done without. But "The Conformist" is an uncompromising commentary on the implications of conformity under the wrong circumstances, as seen in a man who is smart enough to know very well what he is doing and why. Strange that he is almost sympathetic. Italian with optional subtitles.

The DVD (Paramount 2006): "The Rise of the Conformist: The Story, the Cast" (13 min) includes interviews with Bernardo Bertolucci about the script, casting, Marcello's character, and with cinematographer Vittorio Storaro about story and themes. "Shadow and Light: Filming The Conformist" (14 min) features Bertolucci commenting on Scarfiotti's art direction and the film's ending. Vittorio Storaro explains his use of distinct light and shadow areas to delineate character, including the "prisoner of Plato" scene in Quadri's office as metaphor for cinema as a shadow of reality. In "The Conformist: Breaking New Ground" (11 min), Bertolucci discusses preserving the "wildness" of the dailies in editing, the film's structure, and how the film almost didn't open in the US. Subtitles are available for the film in English, Spanish, Portuguese. Dubbing available in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese.

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The conformist

Bernardo Bertolucci's film, "the conformist" (il conformista) is probably the director's best. Bertolucci is also credited for writing the script in collaboration with the well known novelist Alberto Moravia. Jean-Louis Trintignan gives an excellent performance as a small time opportunist, who thrives in the fascist regime of Mussolini's Italy in the 1930s. Under the superficial appearance of order and morality the viewer is allowed to sense the repressive, immoral and hypocritical nature of the state, in which betrayal, infidelity, pedophilia and even murder are not only tolerated but even promoted and supported by the regime. The slow hypnotic pace of the film, photographed in low lighting and accompanied by a perfectly matching and almost ominous soundtrack creates the proper milieu. There is throughout the film an aura of repressed sexuality with homoerotic overtones, perfectly interpreted by the acting of Dominique Sanda and Stefania Sandreli.

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Hasn't been available on dvd until now

This film reveals how there's an ingredient of every political movement in everyone.
It's a stylish and scary film about the rise of fascism in Italy in the 1930's and 40's
The brilliant story demostrates how both repulsive and attractive the sinister
ways of fascism were to many iItalians. If you enjoy The Conformist you have to see
The Spider's Strategem. Another masterpiece by Bernado Bertolucci

Finally on DVD

Many cinephiles have been waiting for this one for years; now it's here, and it's going to be a treat to see the stunning cinematography in DVD quality. The Conformist includes a prominent discussion of Plato's cave, and true to that theme, light is a major thematic element throughout the film, so it's well worth seeing at the best resolution possible.

Oh, and it's a terrific movie, full of glamour, intrigue, sex, and betrayal. Really one of the more perfect movies ever made, which makes it a shame that Bertolucci never made anything this flawless again.

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