The Conformist

I went to see the Conformist at BFI Southbank yesterday. Amazing film, hyperbolic representation of the fascist mentality, with an artistic mixture of politics, ideals, religion and sexuality. And everything so well disposed, every excess so well integrated into the plot... it is definitely a masterpiece.

I was confident since I'd read very enthusiastic comments on the net before, but after having seen it I have to admit that this is one of the films that you have to be Italian to fully appreciate. It is not just a matter of language, subtitles, and so on. It's a matter of national identity: it tells you a story that is part of our history, if it's not your own history, you can still understand it, but you will miss the passion in it. You won't feel it as your own.