Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Sight & Sound Challenge: The Conformist (1970)

Film: The Conformist (101/250) 
First Time/Rewatch: First Time

What would you be willing to do to feel "normal"? To fit in with everyone else? You wouldn't, oh I don't know, join the Fascist secret police, would you? Marcello Clerici would.
This is the story of a man with a troubled past and a troubled mind. He wants to live a "normal" life and if that includes lying, murder, infidelity, betrayal, and bottling up everything he can't handle, then so be it. What really drew me in was the visuals. Gorgeous 30s costumes, rich colors, beautiful deco interiors, I ate it all up. Even if the story wasn't intriguing enough (which it is), there was plenty to appreciate in that cinematography. I read that Francis Ford Coppola was inspired by certain shots when making The Godfather, Part II (1974) and you can definitely feel its influence. Worth a watch just to experience what amounts to a masterclass in period filmmaking. 

And I hate to sound typical, but those 30s hairstyles! Swoon!

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