mraculeated
The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
Orla Zuniga
It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review
Asad Almond
A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.
wmoscaduran
This classic Italian film is a comedy that tells the story of Ferdinando Cefalu who is unhappily married for 15 years, but he falls in love with his wife's niece, and he starts a plan to end his marriage and not be criticized by the old and classy Italian society. In the meantime, in order to complete his plan many things happened including funny moments and some dramatic moments. The movie seems to have been very well directed and very well acted and gives us a little hint about the behavior of the Sicilian society. In order to do his plan, Ferdinando chooses a crazy idea, and takes a long time to plan and detail his plan perfectly having a lot of funny interruptions during the process of his plan. Its refreshing to find movies with good sense of humor, and no use of vulgarities or bad language to make the viewers laugh. I really enjoyed it, and i deeply recommend watching it.
John T. Ryan
POSING IN THE guise of a movie, this film gave us a fine example of the fine Art of Satire. While it exists on the surface as a highly interesting, captivating and truly funny story; it's much more. The method it uses is instructive and sheds light on a social condition that existed in Italy at the time. That issue was the lack of a Divorce Law in that country.WE WERE TREATED to a showing of this film on a local TV station's Sunday Night Late movie. The year was circa 1966; making this DIVORCE Italian STYLE approximately 5 years old by then. We (I) were about 19 years of age then, which means that there was a lot that we didn't understand at that time. We, of course, believed that we were big, grown-up and highly sophisticated at that age. But then again, didn't everyone think of themselves like this? (Can you say "Sophomoric", Schultz?) THE STORY CONCERNS the trials and tribulations of a Middle Class gentleman, Marcello Mastroianni, who is dealing with what is often called "Middle Age Crazy" or "Male Menopause". Although he has a very attractive Wife (Daniella Rocca), he is not content and falls for a teenage temptress (Stefania Sandrelli).THE GREATEST PORTION of the movie involves Signore Mastroianni's lamentations over his unfulfilled desires, plotting how he could 'remedy' the situation and his managing to avoid detection by all, including the girl's family. (In a bit of little used today example of Black Humour, he dodges the bullet of being discovered by her Father's receiving the wrong bit of mail, with Father's being driven to a fatal heart attack while reading it.) IN A SORT OF side bar to the main plot, we see what may be the greatest gag in the film. Folowing the denunciation and warning about the immorality and blatant sinfulness of a motion that is soon to be shown at the local movie house by the local Catholic Priest, the next scene consists of showing large numbers of locals literally running to the theatre, many carrying their own chairs.BECAUSE OF THE sentiments connected with divorce, combined with the law on its legal standing, it is accepted for an offended spouse to kill the adulterous mate. It was in turn considered a crime of passion that carried a light prison term.THE 'SOLUTION' TO his problem has Mr. Mastrioianni attempting to figuratively 'push' his wife into an affair with a former flame. The events leading up to his consummating the solution are most amusing and the setting leading to a great ending.IN THE END, the man doesn't exactly get punished for his misdeeds and fanciful philandering; but he does (or soon will) find out that there is so much truth in the old adage: "The Grass always looks Greener on the Other Side of the Fence."
jadekite22
"Divorce - Italian Style," released as the 286th addition to the Criterion Collection, is a film that is heavy on theme but doesn't preach to you. It's a film that is stylized but never calls attention to itself. Most importantly, it's a film that screams "classic" without so much as a subliminal whisper.Marcello Mastroianni's Baron Fernando Cefalu is a man known by all and watched by all, like any celebrity, with judgmental eyes. This is probably why he's stayed with his overbearing wife (Daniela Rocca) for fifteen years. But, as his age shows through his suave looks, he begins to question how much longer he can take it. In comes Angela (Stefania Sanderelli), his much younger cousin whose ever-so-slight passes at him force him to decide to either take a risk and pursue her or accept his current situation as a dedicated husband with a reputation to uphold. While he makes up his mind. . . he fantasizes about various ways to kill his wife, eventually finding one that's practically achievable and sets forth to make it a reality.Don't worry if this infidelity plot sounds familiar to you because the film is perfectly aware of that, even being nearly 60-years old. Also don't be concerned if such low-stakes social dramas don't interest you. In fact, that would actually make you the perfect candidate for this particular film for it's a satire, a damned great one at that.The usual complaint for the films, or harlequin romances, "Divorce" satirizes is that if the characters aren't developed that well, it's difficult to care whether the situation works out or not, especially if it involves a murderer for which it's hard enough to have sympathy for as it is. Director Pietro Germi and screenwriter Ennio De Concini set up the film in a deceptively simple way that avoids this conflict, effectively making you root for the Baron based on the situation alone-- it's even said that American audiences who saw this in its original release were laughing throughout without the assistance of subtitles because of this technique. The viewer merely needs to be introduced to the Baron as a man who can't get a wink of sleep in his own bed without telling his wife how much he loves her until she's satisfied, which is never. With that, the viewer is already thinking about their own escape plan, not realizing that the most painless strategy is murder. In a sense, the film makes you forget this too as its coying sense of humor distracts you from the horrible end task.An example of this is, after the Baron finds out that he must set up the murder to look like a crime of passion (in order to get the shortest jail sentence), he attempts to find an unknowing participant to pin an affair with his wife to. This results in him looking to anyone and everyone, from subtly alluded-to homosexuals to a man who's already having his own affair with the Baron's housekeeper, each time resulting in hilarity.It also helps that the actors are so perfectly cast here. Marcello Mastroianna is akin to the Italian Pepe le Pew, balancing his cartoonish good looks (of which he's in denial of in the film) with just enough sympathy to make his bastard character seem almost noble. To avoid commenting on what less-than-attractive physical traits Daniela Rocca brought to her character as the wife *cough* facial hair*cough*, let's just say this reviewer was convinced by her very funny performance that the Baron deserved to aim higher. Also, the supporting cast, with a special shout-out to the man who played Angela's father, absolutely nailed it as the archetypal Italian characters you would picture while listening to Adam Ferrara's stand-up comedy.The DVD, while lacking a commentary track that would be perfect for a film of this short-but-sweet length, features a good set of special features and a pristine transfer one would expect from the folks at Criterion. There were a few distracting scratches on the corners of some of the frames, but it's doubtable this was avoidable considering the film's age, though it still looks quite beautiful today. Martin Scorcese and others contribute essays to a booklet that rivals the short interviews on the supplementary disc as well, complimented by cover art by comic artist Jaime Hernandez of Love & Rockets fame.Overall, this film is a masterpiece of comedy in the tone of later successes like Alfred Hitchcock's "The Trouble With Harry" and should not be missed regardless of whether you enjoy simple black humor or are looking for answers to why many of today's similar comedies ("The Bounty Hunter") fail.
jotix100
Imagine the life of Baron Ferdinando Cefalu, an impoverished middle aged man who has fallen in love with his young cousin Angela. In the society of Agramonte, Sicily, of that time, being poor was endurable, but the pangs of love Ferdinando feels in his heart, is consuming him, but his bigger problem is he is married to Rosalia, a woman who truly loves him, or so it seems. What could a man do in Ferdinando's shoes? Nothing, since in the Italy of those years divorce was not allowed, either by the state, or the church.The only possible solution to solve Ferdinando's problems is in trying to kill Rosalia. In the Italian penal code of the times, people could plea guilty in trying to avenge their honor and would get lesser sentences. Rosalia, who has no idea of what's going on, has a secret of her own. Years ago, she had been in love with Carmelo Patane, a man who went to war and on his return found that his beloved Rosalia had already married Baron Ferdinando! It's the Baron, who discovers the letters Rosalia likes to read on the sly, late at night. Ferdinando devises a plan that will bring Carmelo to repaint some of the frescoes of the old palatial home, hoping Rosalia and the painter will try to reacquaint themselves, as it's obvious that even though Carmelo is married, he still loves Rosalia! The Baron, who has bought a tape recorder, and spies on his wife and the painter, knows the end is in sight and gambling on getting a short jail time, goes ahead with his plans. Little does he know what his life with Angela will be like!"Divorce Italian Style", directed by Pietro Germi, was a satire about Italian law that allowed such practices to take place. In a complete Catholic society, people got married for life, literally. Since there was no divorce, couples who found out they were not compatible had to keep on staying married because divorce was not an option. Pietro Germi and his collaborators take a look at how, with some clever research, imagination, and ingenuity, an unhappily married man could get a release from those restricting marital vows.Marcello Mastroianni was perfect as Baron Ferdinando Cefalu. The actor clearly knew this man and the mentality of men like his character. His facial expressions are worth the price of the rental of this wonderful Criterion DVD. Mastroianni, one of the best film actors of his generation gives one of the best performances of his career. Daniella Rocca, who plays Rosalia, makes a great contribution to make this film the winner it is. Leopoldo Trieste, another important figure in the Italian cinema, appears as Carmelo Patane, the painter who never stopped loving Rosalia. Stefania Sandrelli, is seen briefly as the object of Ferndinando's passion and love.The DVD transfer has kept the film black and white cinematography of Carlo DiPalma and Leonida Barboni intact. We can see the sunny Sicilian town in all its splendor as captured by the camera of these men. Pietro Germi, the director and co-writer, delivered a film that is a classic because of the humanity, love and humor that went into this tremendously satisfying work.
