«Buongiorno, notte» (2003)

In the 1970s Italy was rocked with acts of political terrorism, committed by far-left and far-right terrorist groups. This period was called the Years of Lead and some historians even characterized it as a low-intensity civil war. This, combined with economic crisis, gave the impression of the total collapse of the Italian state and full impotence of the ruling party (Democrazia Cristiana).

That situation demanded irregular decisions and certain major players of Democrazia Cristiana, including Aldo Moro, decided to make reapproachment with the Italian Communist Party. The Historic Compromise was opposed by lots of powerful forces, but it gave a hope of fixing the chronic Italian problems. Then, on 16^th of March, 1978, Aldo Moro was kidnapped by the Reb Brigades.

By the end of the 1970s, the Italian Communist Party shifted to the reasonable left-wing platform and showed its administrative credentials in the certain parts of Italy (including Emilia-Romagna). On the other hand, the Red Brigades was a radical left-wing terrorist organization in the mold of Narodnaya Volya. They applied such principles as a culpability of a person just on a merit of his affiliation with the certain class (i.e. bourgeoisie).

The film captures the spirit of the Red Brigades, whose members were, among them, dogmatic radicals, who were committed only to so-called «proletarian justice», or left-wing students, who began to get disappointed in violence. At first, they think that the Italian state is on its knees and the Italians will support them, but the reality is different – the people are indifferent or appalled and the political class took a hard stance against terrorism.

Marco Bellocchio shows the events through the eyes of Chiara – a 23-year old radicalized woman, who assists the Brigades and works at some dead-end job at the ministry. Firstly, she sees everything through the prism of class struggle and considers Aldo Moro as an oppressor. Still, she starts to see things differently and understands that nothing is black and white. In addition, Chiara starts to realize that her organization is turning into something that she truly abhors – fascists, which were also ready to execute people without proper proof of their guilt.

Nevertheless, they already went too far and there is no turning back for them. The Director also included the repetitive historical pattern of how some radical fools (such as SA during the rise of Hitler or Left Socialist-Revolutionaries during the Russian Revolution) are used for some political gain and then discarded as an used ammo. So, the Red Brigades became useful to sabotage the Historic Compromise, but for how long?

The film captures this claustrophobic atmosphere and the heroes are already in prison. Only, for that moment, their prison got separate rooms, good food, books and wine. Nevertheless, soon they will move to a less comfortable prison, where they will rot for many years to come. Moreover. their prisoner, a decent (at least, for a politician) family man and god-fearing Catholic, will be uses as a martyr to promote some short-term political goals.

A former radical left-wing activist Marco Bellocchio shot an extraordinary film about how idealism, combined with political radicalism, could lead to barbaric actions and how those actions can be exploited by some smart people. Watch it.

Bon Voyage!

Comédie-Française!

In the June of 1940 the Maginot Line has been crashed. All Parisians are running to Bordeaux: the government ministers, the scientists, the criminals, the aristocracy, the artists and the German spies. In a span of a few days, the destiny of France will be decided and, meanwhile, the people are trying to figure their way out…

One of the screenwriters – Patrick Modiano – has already written in 1974 the screenplay for Louis Malle «Lacomb Lucien». Back in 1974, this film exploded because it showed the true face of a French society during World War II. Patrick Modiano, in collaboration with four screenwriters, returned to this theme in 2003 and had chosen the most unbelievable genre – a comedy.

If «Lacomb Lucien» was a portart of the French society as the whole, «Bon Voyage!» ridicules the French ruling class. Practically all of the French higher society shown as a bunch of indifferent people, who cares only how to get to Hotel «Splendid». The aristocrats, the government ministers, the business people are even secretly happy about an armistice. It would allow them to come back to Paris and «with Germans we will learn to cooperate».

Under such circumstances, the most unlikely kind of people could become heroes: the criminals, who ran away from a jail and who prevent Germans from obtaining the nuclear bomb. One of the main heroes – an aspiring writer, who was imprisoned because of his love – who got to Bordeaux to sort some thing out with his love. Nevertheless, circumstances forces him to take a direct part into the future of France.

The film got a superb acting for the main and supporting cast alike.

To the most of the heroines, created by Isabelle Adjani, you feel compassion, sympathy; they could touch even the most cynical hearts. The Actress had brilliantly portrayed the greatest women in history: Adelie Hugo, Emily Bronte, Antonieta Rivas Mercado, Camille Claudel, Margarite de Valois. This time Isabelle Adjani uses her splendid talent and magic to create the quintessence of the talentless actress and a truly despicable character. You could even say that Viviane Denvers is anti-Isabelle Adani, If Isabelle Adjani is a great actress and beautiful woman, Viviane Denvers is the third-rate actress with a cute face.

Viviane Denvers is ready to go to bed with anyone who would provide a boost for career, pay for her and protect her. As Hendrik Hoefgen from «Mephisto», Viviane has sold her soul for the cheap glory. In the world of Viviane Denvers there is no place for such words as dignity, loyalty and love. She is ready to set up the person, who truly loves her, and abandon him, like any other useless lover. All her charm is the combination of a third-rate acting: the theatrical crying, the rolling eyes and the constant talking about her sad life. During the course of this film, Viviane loses the last remains of her dignity and she realizes too late that there is no way back. Isabelle Adjani has brilliantly portrayed Viviane’s nullity. You don’t feel any compassion towards her and the final scene clearly shows her future.

Other actors were also brilliant. Gérard Depardieu as the corrupt minister. Peter Coyote as a German spy with the mephistophelean charm to whom Viviane «sells her soul». Virginie Ledoyen as an idealistic young girl, loyal to France and science. Grégori Derangère as an aspiring writer, who becomes a hero. In addition, the legends of French cinema Aurore Clément and Edith Scob has created episodic memorable characters.

Enclosing, let me say that in the June of 1940 comedy, spy flick, melodrama, drama and war movie has met in Bordeaux and the meeting was splendid!

9/10