"Il Conformista" (Bertolucci, 1969)

"I want to see how a dictatorship falls. "

Vittorio Storaro's lush cinematography beautifully complements Bertolucci's rich symbolism, but I can't help but feel with some reluctance underwhelmed by the theme of conforming to society's perception of normality. Obviously, there is a profound sense of universality here, but Bertolucci's allusions to Plato and Italy's historical roots are curiously deceptive in providing the film with the illusion that there's much more than meets the eye. Regardless, Storaro provides a depth that remains astonishing and the score is effectively composed by Georges Delerue.

B+