Conformista, Il (1970, ITA/FRA/GER) C-113m. ***½ D: Bernardo Bertolucci. Starring Jean-Louis Trintignant, Stefania Sandrelli, Gastone Moschin, Enzo Tarascio, Dominique Sanda, Pierre Clémenti. Remarkably mature, demanding psycho drama about title character Trintignant, who in 1930s Italy strives for a career in the Fascist secret service. Then he is assigned to spy on his former professor and mentor Tarascio. Top-notch character study and historical drama, with an astounding combination of direction and camerawork (by Vittorio Storaro), excellent score by Georges Delerue. Trintignant gives one of the coldest - and best - performances of his career. Bertolucci also wrote the screenplay, an adaptation of the novel by Alberto Moravia. Aldo Lado was assistant director. Bertolucci followed this with the even more fascinating STRATEGIA DEL RAGNO. English title: THE CONFORMIST.


© Ron Altman