The Conformist

It's amusing. Of the three Bernardo Bertolucci films I've seen, two of them are more infamous for their depictions of sex (Last Tango in Paris, The Dreamers) and the third earned him a few Oscars (The Last Emperor). I had yet to see a film made in his native tongue.

So I opted for The Conformist, the film that put him on the map. Filled with espionage and conspiracy, the film shows how far one is willing to go to prove themselves. (This is an espionage film, after all. That's actually quite a common theme among them.)

Starring Jean-Louis Trintignant, The Conformist depicts how someone faithful to his own beliefs can be pressured into betraying them. Marcello (Trintignant) is shown to be happily married and loyal to his country of Italy. But a new assignment tempts him to become unfaithful to both his wife and country.

Amusingly, The Conformist isn't that far off from Z (which also features Trintignant). Both films chronicle how long secrets can be hidden. (For Z, it's who was behind the assassination; for The Conformist, it's Marcello's past.) Again, this is a spy film. It's practically expected.

Anyway, The Conformist is a damn good film. It's also more proof that the Italians clearly know what they're doing when it comes to films. Man, Bertolucci is fast becoming a favorite of mine.

My Rating: *****