Mauro, a judge, is worried about his older sister Marta, who took care of him since he was a boy, and is now affected by psychic problems and suicide fantasies. She seems to recover from her depression when Mauro acquaints her with Giovanni, a brilliant actor at the edge of legality. Mauro become unconsciously jealous of this relationship, and tries to get Giovanni arrested.
Director: Marco Bellocchio.
Writers: Marco Bellocchio (story and screenplay), Piero Natoli & Vincenzo Cerami (collaboration).
Stars: Michel Piccoli, Anouk Aimée, Michele Placido, Gisella Burinato, Antonio Piovanelli, Anna Orso, Pier Giorgio Bellocchio.
Cinematographer: Giuseppe Lanci.
Composer: Nicola Piovani.
1980 Cannes Film Festival – Nominated for the Palme d’Or.
1980 Cannes Film Festival – Winner Best Actress (Anouk Aimée).
1980 Cannes Film Festival – Winner Best Actor (Michel Piccoli).
⇒ DOWNLOAD THIS FILM ⇐
Note: RIP Michel Piccoli (1925-2020). Unfortunately due to lack of time I’m not able to put up any new Piccoli films on the site so I thought as a little tribute I could upgrade the old rip that I uploaded last September with this better looking copy for one of Piccoli’s best films, still SD but better resolution and I gave subtitles better readability by making the font bigger. Great film. Enjoy!
Bellocchio’s themes are a little murky to me in the last analysis, but it’s still a fascinating examination of the root causes of psychosis in the modern mind. Piccoli and Aimée are definitely award-worthy here, not only because their work is so deeply felt in demonstrable character arcs, but because it’s so different from, and so much deeper than, I’ve seen them before. This is one to see again.
Usually when a character goes mad over the course of a movie, it’s grueling. When Mr. Piccoli does it, it’s hilarious and fascinating. I’ll probably never forget this. Thanks.