Commare Secca, La
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Year Released: 1962
Rating: 1.5
Police investigate the death of a prostitute by inviting several suspects to give their own sides of the story - although Bertolucci claimed to have not seen Rashomon at the time, it's the same basic concept. What his film does fail to do, however, is flesh out the characters - too much of the movie is showing off the drab individuals moseying around or wasting time, so that when it does finally get to the details of her demise, the impact is muted. The camerawork and pacing are, at this point, already in place - the political edge and smart writing flourish in some of his later - and most successful - movies (Last Tango in Paris, The Last Emperor).
