This is probably the most undervalued of all the great Italian films made during the boom period following the late 1950s economic revival. The others you already know--"La Dolce Vita," "Rocco and His Brothers," "L'Avventura" and Antonioni's next few, "Divorce Italian Style" and "Seduced and Abandoned". But Risi's film, though considered archetypal in Italy, has not reached nearly as many viewers. This is a shame, since it's a movie that everyone can enjoy while it raises many serious issues about responsibility, adulthood, the pursuit of happiness, and the perils of always trying to "fare la bella figura".
"Il Sorpasso" is above all a character study, in the best sense. Bruno is charming, witty, obnoxious, deluded, lovable, manic--all of these things at once. Gassman gives the performance of a lifetime. I can think of few film performances that soar through the comic bits but also fully suggest the tragic dimension of the empty soul. Trintignant is very good also--a perfect foil.
I hope that everyone will get a chance to see this movie. The one time I saw it was on video in a poor print a few years ago. Criterion, Rialto, New Yorker Video: please, do a deluxe set! This one is ripe for rediscovery by everyone.
"Il Sorpasso" is above all a character study, in the best sense. Bruno is charming, witty, obnoxious, deluded, lovable, manic--all of these things at once. Gassman gives the performance of a lifetime. I can think of few film performances that soar through the comic bits but also fully suggest the tragic dimension of the empty soul. Trintignant is very good also--a perfect foil.
I hope that everyone will get a chance to see this movie. The one time I saw it was on video in a poor print a few years ago. Criterion, Rialto, New Yorker Video: please, do a deluxe set! This one is ripe for rediscovery by everyone.