The presence of two tailor shops right next to each other in a Rome neighborhood in 1938 is the basis of "Unfair Competition", a film by Etore Scola, which evokes to some degree his much better "A Special Day". The ugly side of fascism is a rising phenomenon in Italy. Soon the whole country will be in the midst of that infamous regime that brought nothing but suffering to the population at large.
Umberto is the maker of fine suits, while his next door neighbor, Leone, offers a cheaper merchandise. Umberto's business caters to a more refined clientele, while Leone has more affordable garments for budget minded customers. When Umberto devises a campaign for summer, Leone answers with his own kind of fashions for the vacation minded Romans. Their rivalry is the talk of the neighborhood. These two individuals are destined to get on each other's nerves.
Unknown to the two business enemies, their young sons are best friends who share a passion for building things together, playing and drawing. The same goes for Umberto's son, who is desperately in love with Leone's daughter. One thing that makes them different is their religious beliefs, Umberto is catholic, while Leone is Jewish. Soon the ruling regime dictates laws that will make it more difficult for Jews to survive in the hostile environment.
When Leone's window is broken by a stone, Umberto cannot help but feeling sorry for his rival. After all, Umberto is a decent man. Leone sees his days are numbered so the best thing is to get out of the business he and his father have built. Umberto finally comes around when Leone gets sick showing that in spite of their different styles, he can be friends with a man that never caused him any harm.
A well felt film by director Etore Scola. It is not one of his best productions, but he manages to tell the story in simple terms. The political aspects of the film are subtly played. Leone and his family feel what is coming to the country, but they find they cannot do anything to stop the madness that soon will sweep Italy and the rest of Europe. Umberto, a decent man, cannot bring himself to accuse his competition of being a Jew, even though he could profit from doing so.
Sergio Castellitto and Diego Abatantuono are seen in the main roles of Leone and Umberto. These two fine actors are a pleasure to have in any movie. Both actors make a great contribution to the success of the film. The supporting cast is wonderful. Gerard Depardieu makes an appearance in a surprising role that does not add anything to the story. His character could have been played by any Italian actor.
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