"The Conformist" **** (out of ****)
When the great Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci emerged on the world scene with his debut film "The Grim Reaper", at the age of 25, he was in awe of one of the leading directors of the French New Wave, Jean-Luc Godard. All of Bertolucci's early films were Godard-lite. Bertolucci seemed to share Godard's left-wing views. He too wanted to make films which served not only to entertain but to make political and social commentaries.
Watch "Before the Revolution" and "Partner" and you will see the influence Godard had on Bertolucci. The problem with this is, Bertolucci didn't seem to have his own voice. He was the Godard for people who didn't like Godard. But in 1971 something happened. Bertolucci seemed to have found his own voice. He broke away from Godard and started to make films in a style which would be exclusively associated with him. He would start to find a way to blend sex and politics into one. The film which started it all was "The Conformist".
The film was based on novel written by Alberto Moravia and adapted by Bertolucci himself. Jean-Louis Trintignant (from Lelouch's "A Man & A Woman") plays Marcello Clerici, a Fascist hitman, assigned to kill an anti-Fascist Professor, who Marcello was once a student of, who now lives in Paris.
The "conformist" in the film is Marcello. Is he really a devoted fascist? According to his Professor (Enzo Tarascio) he was one of his best students. Even the professor doesn't believe Marcello truly accepts the fascist ways. But Marcello is a hitman. A job is a job and he must do what he was paid to do. But he resist.
Marcello is also about to be married to Giulia (Stefania Sandrelli). Giulia comes from a wealthy family. Marcello doesn't seem to be in love with her, but, he feels it is the right thing to do. To get married, have a wife and start a family. He wants to be seen as "normal". He gets into many discussions concerning what is "normal".
For readers unaware Sandrelli was quite a sex symbol in world cinema. She has such an innocent look to her yet she is fully aware of her beauty and the power it gives her over men. Her character is a playful flirt, and may even have a touch of lesbianism in her.
The professor is married to a much younger woman, Anna (Dominique Sanda, who was in Bertolucci's "1900"). She and Giulia seem a little too close for comfort. They undress in front of each other. And in one of the movie's most famous scenes, they dance a tango. In some versions of this movie the scene was cut out. It was banned in many countries for being too sexual and suggestive.
"The Conformist" is one of the few films I would describe as truly being "art". The cinematographer was Vittorio Storaro, who worked with Bertolucci many times. He is my favorite cinematographer. His wonderful use of colors always impresses me. It is vibrant. It reminds me of a Goya painting. In fact Storaro did shoot a movie on Goya's life.
Two scenes are extremely powerful in this film. One involves a murder in the woods. It is not because it is violent that it stands out but because of the emotional power it has. It is in this scene I believe Marcello is confronted with what type of person he truly is. He looks one of his victims in the eyes and sees the horror on their face. His stare is cold. He appears powerless in the situation. He doesn't attack but realizes what the eventual outcome must be.
The other powerful scene comes at the end of the film. It is the last image. Mussolini has been thrown out of power. A new social order is on the way. Marcello heads to the streets where protest are going on. He sits behind a fence where a fire is burning. The camera shoots him from behind. He slightly turns his heads. The viewer sees him behind the bars of the gate with the shadow of flames in the background. I like to interpret this as Marcello caged in, trapped in his own inferno. He must morally deal with his past and the sins he has committed. There is even a confession scene in the film, when Giulia tells Marcello he must confess his sins before they marry.
These two scenes I think shows us Marcello in the best light. They reveal what kind of person he is. It shows us his inner conflict.
Many filmbuffs like to refer to "The Conformist" as Bertolucci's best film. I agree with them. It is in this film Bertolucci is able to blend sex and politics in a masterful way. For many years the film was not available on VHS or DVD. Finally it has been brought to DVD. It should be seen by everyone. At least by those who call themselves film lovers. It is one of the masterpieces of cinema.
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