because it wasn't absolutely evident from my previous statements, *I AM* italian. Proper, full 100% italian.
Kinda. Sort of. Half and half. Well i was born there and lived .. look, it's complicated.
My reason for disliking some well known classics is that i disapprove of the emotions that the film intends to portray. I don't like films which are sad, where the character has no control over its life, or it is weak willed, and i also don't like films which are boring, which take too long to make a point, what i like is films where
the good guy kills the dragon with the sword and everyone lives happily everafter.
I accept that filmmakers have the right to make films which are the opposite of this, and some films i have very much loved which go against the simple concepts of entertainment, such as La Haine, or Film Blue. I also accept negative emotions, as long as there is some struggle from the Hero to overcome these sentiments. For me, Melancholia is shit.
Now, Sordi in particular is a drama actor. Many of his films are tragedies. There is even one film, whose title i have long forgotten, but essentially the plot is so:
1. Sordi is making a lot of sacrifices to succeed in life
2. his friend seems to succeed by simply smiling and everyone gives him everything
3. friend commits an atrocious sex crime
4. when the police show up, Sordi is so incapable of accepting that this guy is a criminal, that he takes the blame for the crime.
without any f* reason.
This, you will find, is what *most* of italian film is like. There is always tragedy looming, we are constantly depicted as beings who live in a state where we suffer the inevitable tragedy, and to even try to fight tragedy is foolish. And, this reflects in the actual IRL lives of italians. "
You are what you are, you cannot better yourself" should be on the flag.
Now, Sordi in these roles can be intolerable, but the thing is, these are the kind of films that Criterion will bring to the US. They won't bring his FUNNY films, and god, he is funny.
The film you pointed out has Nino Manfredi in the lead. You can see him in
In Nome Del Papa Re (and you should), and many, many other works. And, if you want, you can see the "full" (23 minutes) film Il Santo Soglio (The Holy Seat) here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaZGM0Auwlo
It's got auto-translate CC, good luck. Nino Manfredi stars. He also stars in many other films, but he's never been a solid lead, rather he works well as supporting actor. His best work is
Nell'Anno Del Signore (again, one of those "old Rome cycle" films) where he plays the part of the rogue poet Pasquino, in a time where you would be put in jail for speaking out about the Pope.