Ok, we are probably not talking about a film by Fellini or Antonioni or early Moretti. Probably Salvatores is the most commercial director among the most commercial in Italy. But this film, in my opinion, is a decent work, far from the territory of "trash" or "sad Italian comedy" that has been plaguing us for twenty years, more or less.
It is an entirely nocturnal film, where the protagonists are all rejects of the pre-Mani Pulite society and the "Milano da bere" era, who find in cabaret the only way to survive. They are the classic clowns, sad inside and happy -for the occasion- outside. The "eternal" night of the film is nothing but the célinian night, a metaphor for the degradation of modern man. Only two, out of the six, will succeed in becoming comedians on Drive In. Decent screenplay. Excellent use of actors, with Paolo Rossi standing out above all. Appreciable direction by Salvatores who indulges in some original shots and rather unusual details such as the ambient temperature of the place where the six live or find themselves.
In its own small way it is one of the few independent Italian films of a certain level. One of the few that combines laughter and drama without descending into nonsense. In short: if you become commercial, you're screwed, because back when you were an underground and independent director, you were appreciable. Just as we open our minds and define Tarantino as a master of cinema, then I think it is also worth opening it to watch this film and perhaps judge it positively.
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