The moving story of a young Pete Buttigieg's struggle to cut ties with his Marxist father. Vittorio Storaro's stunning cinematography introduces many of the visual ideas he would perfect a half-century later in Rifkin's Festival.
A weak-willed Italian man becomes a fascist flunky who goes abroad to arrange the assassination of his old teacher, now a political dissident.
Where to watch
2The Conformist is showing in 1 cinema in Athens — next screening Tuesday 28 July at 21:00 at Cine Oasis.
Tuesday, 28 July
/ TomorrowWednesday, 29 July
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Cast & crew
6What people say
Too-good-to-be-true first time viewing. The Conformist is a quiet character study like Le Samourai but with the content reversed: Marcello is desperate to be as cool as Jef, and in his desperation he constantly reveals how uncool he actually is. His frantic belief in the big Other belies his lack of belief in himself. Through this psychological drama, the film aligns fascism with a kind of impotence and repressed sexuality. The cinematography is also all-time great status (primarily shot composition and color palette, but also the DP's mysterious ability to shoot as if his massive film camera were a weightless nothing he can manipulate as he pleases). I would have immediately rewatched it if not for a prior engagement to see Rebecca on the big screen; but there's always tomorrow.Italian Cinema | The Rewatch List
men will turn to fascism instead of admitting they're a little gay
Common questions
What is The Conformist about?+
Set in 1930s Italy, the film follows Marcello Clerici, a man so desperate to fit into society that he becomes a tool of the fascist regime, tasked with orchestrating the assassination of his former professor.
Who directed The Conformist?+
Bernardo Bertolucci directed this 1970 film, a foundational work of his career that showcases his signature blend of political critique and visual composition.
Has The Conformist won any awards?+
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and remains a celebrated work often cited for its influence on global cinema.
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