March 23rd: THE CONFORMIST (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1970)
NOTE: This film will be projected in the high-definition Blu-ray format.
Bernardo Bertolucci originally followed in his poet father's footsteps, winning awards for his own writing at a young age. But after working as an assistant to director Pier Paolo Pasolini, he turned his attention to cinema, making his own first feature in 1962.
A declared Marxist already making political-themed films, Bertolucci chose to adapt a novel about Italy's relationship with fascism by his fellow countryman Alberto Moravia, whose work had previously been filmed by Jean-Luc Godard (Contempt) and Vittorio de Sica (Two Women).
Due to the struggling Italian film industry, many productions from local directors were made with foreign funding and actors from different countries. With a story partially set in Paris, French co-production was a given, but Bertolucci also cast prominent French actors Jean-Louis Trintignant (Amour, Three colors: Red) and Dominique Sanda in his lead roles. Also I'm the cast are Italian actors Stefani Sandrelli and Pierre Clementi (Belle du Jour, The Leopard).
Behind the camera was Vittorio Storaro, the new cinematographer on Bertolucci's previous film The Spider's Stratagem, at the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration with the director. Storaro's expressionistic use of light and shadow and manipulation of color astounded many of his contemporaries in Europe and in Hollywood and would become hugely influential. Bertolucci chose not to plan his shot compositions in advance, preferring to work instinctively in the present, and implemented more shots with a moving camera than in previous films.
The design team, including costumer Gitt Magrini (Red Desert, 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her), drew a contrast between fascist Rome and the more socialist-leaning Paris of the time. The Art Deco style of the period was used alongside various architectural landmarks in Rome, with additional shooting done at famed Cinecitta Studios and location work in Paris.
The musical score was composed by a key figure in the French New Wave, Georges Delerue, with over 350 film credits to his name, including scores for François Truffaut (Jules and Jim), Alain Resnais (Hiroshima, Mon Amour), Jean-Luc Godard (Contempt), and eventually many Hollywood productions.
The Conformist premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, which was cut short by a political disagreement. It opened at the same time in Italy and the U.S. due to Bertolucci's deal with Paramount Pictures. It received mostly high praise, winning Best Film at Italy's Donatello award, and in the U.S. winning the National Society of Film Critics' Best Director and Best Cinematography categories. Bertolucci received an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay.
Running time is approx.110 min.
A declared Marxist already making political-themed films, Bertolucci chose to adapt a novel about Italy's relationship with fascism by his fellow countryman Alberto Moravia, whose work had previously been filmed by Jean-Luc Godard (Contempt) and Vittorio de Sica (Two Women).
Due to the struggling Italian film industry, many productions from local directors were made with foreign funding and actors from different countries. With a story partially set in Paris, French co-production was a given, but Bertolucci also cast prominent French actors Jean-Louis Trintignant (Amour, Three colors: Red) and Dominique Sanda in his lead roles. Also I'm the cast are Italian actors Stefani Sandrelli and Pierre Clementi (Belle du Jour, The Leopard).
Behind the camera was Vittorio Storaro, the new cinematographer on Bertolucci's previous film The Spider's Stratagem, at the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration with the director. Storaro's expressionistic use of light and shadow and manipulation of color astounded many of his contemporaries in Europe and in Hollywood and would become hugely influential. Bertolucci chose not to plan his shot compositions in advance, preferring to work instinctively in the present, and implemented more shots with a moving camera than in previous films.
The design team, including costumer Gitt Magrini (Red Desert, 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her), drew a contrast between fascist Rome and the more socialist-leaning Paris of the time. The Art Deco style of the period was used alongside various architectural landmarks in Rome, with additional shooting done at famed Cinecitta Studios and location work in Paris.
The musical score was composed by a key figure in the French New Wave, Georges Delerue, with over 350 film credits to his name, including scores for François Truffaut (Jules and Jim), Alain Resnais (Hiroshima, Mon Amour), Jean-Luc Godard (Contempt), and eventually many Hollywood productions.
The Conformist premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, which was cut short by a political disagreement. It opened at the same time in Italy and the U.S. due to Bertolucci's deal with Paramount Pictures. It received mostly high praise, winning Best Film at Italy's Donatello award, and in the U.S. winning the National Society of Film Critics' Best Director and Best Cinematography categories. Bertolucci received an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay.
Running time is approx.110 min.
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