Freedom. Rebellion.

Two correlated concepts that traditionally go hand in hand, recurring whenever society imposes burdens too heavy on the population, which, oppressed, attempts to free itself through forms of protest.

Art has always been a source and has always drawn inspiration from these two values, through generations of artists undoubtedly with very different peculiarities and intents, but in my opinion, all united under the banner of free thought and all stimulated by a desire for change, whether it be the famous romantic painting "La Libertà Che Guida I Popoli" by Delacroix or the more recent utopian hippie revolution to the punk one of the Sex Pistols. Cinema itself has often dealt with the concept of freedom, but no one had ever considered it from a perspective as particular as that of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest": it's not a war film nor does it present mass social revolutions.

This film by the highly underrated but here in a state of grace Milos Forman, adapted from a Ken Kesey novel, and in my opinion one of those examples of how a film can be better than the book it draws inspiration from, thanks to the interpretation, gestures, photography, was released in 1975 and is still considered a classic. It is also, in my view, the best performance ever by Jack Nicholson, even more iconic, showy, and communicative than in Shining. He plays the true protagonist of the film, Randle McMurphy (who, however, is not the narrator either in the book, where The Chief is, nor in the film), an ex-convict with a fiery, rebellious character, who pretends to be insane to avoid prison, and is thus sent to an asylum. There he meets a series of characters who have voluntarily chosen that exile, from the stuttering and very insecure Billy to the paranoid and petulant Hardings, to the completely wacky and childish Martini masterfully played by a hilarious Danny De Vito, ending with The Chief, a giant Indian pretending to be deaf-mute, with whom he will gradually form a friendship and who will open up to McMurphy in the epic scene "Want a gum?" (offering it).. "Thanks" ... (Nicholson makes an anthology-worthy surprised face).. "Can you even hear?" "Of course". From this point on, McMurphy will have another ally in the common front against the despotic and greatly feared head nurse Ratched, who possesses an apparent humanity, but who is actually distant and simultaneously oppressive towards her patients, whom she subjugates by giving them alleged "medications" useful only to keep them calm, and who denies them the possibility of changing schedules for needs that would in no way compromise their recovery, such as watching a baseball game.

In this concept, we connect back to McMurphy as an icon of freedom: he refuses to stand by, rejects this oppression, and gradually succeeds, with impulsive actions yet always imbued with a comedic drama (pardon the oxymoron but anyone who has seen the film will undoubtedly understand) to awaken the consciences of his companions. A legendary scene I feel compelled to mention is the escape he organizes for the first time and the excursion on the boat, where the "pack of crazies" attempts to fish, with highly entertaining results. The alternation between comedy and drama concludes in favor of the latter precisely at the end, which, however, I do not want to spoil in case you haven't seen the film; it is nonetheless very significant and gives meaning to the entire movie. Nicholson is grand as the rebellious and charismatic leader of this improvised motley crew, and Louise Fletcher is very good in the role of the icy and falsely understanding nurse; both will be awarded the Oscar for best actor and actress in leading roles. Even the secondary roles are well acted, and among others, the big screen debut of Christopher Lloyd must be noted.

In terms of evaluation there's little to say, we are talking about one of those immortal films and a real cult movie for generations and generations, frankly if we want to avoid scholarly discussions and comparisons with niche underground Thai films, which leave me bewildered, for the emotions and meaning it conveys, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is a *****, plain and simple. Priceless. Like the lesson it imparts.

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Other reviews

By Mattone

 I couldn’t figure out if I was more on the side of the patients or the doctors.

 The better an actor is, the less you notice they are acting. And in this film, I can’t think of actors who didn’t genuinely seem crazy, or doctors, or whatever else they were portraying.


By RIBALDO

 No movie has made me cry three times for three different reasons: JOY, EMOTION, PAIN.

 The ending with the Indian lifting the sink and breaking the window is the most beautiful I've ever seen.