Seen through the perspective of childhood friends-of-a-sort, Angelo and Olmo (played by the youthful-ish Robert de Niro and Gerard Depardieu respectively), this ambitious grand sweep of a historical melodrama stretches from agrarian disputes at the start of C20 to the eventual appearance of the blackshirts to liberation in 1945.
It's uneven and a little far-fetched (cf 'The Dreamers'), in places crudely and unnecessarily overacted, and beset by the preponderant glorification of the communist movement, ever-present in European arthouse historical dramas, particularly those Italian. Somewhat curious that almost all the major parts are taken by non-Italian actors (Burt Lancaster and Donald Sutherland are in there too). This 2-disc DVD version appears to be dubbed in English, with no Italian dialogue option. The subtitles remained on in any case.
Not Bertolucci's finest momement, but Emilia, the Parmense, the Po Valley and Dominque Sanda are, as always, resplendent however, and despite its
(in)famous lengthiness, it doesn't feel overly long.
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