CRAZY DESIRE (Luciano Salce, 1962)
Antonio Berlinghieri (Ugo Tognazzi) is a middle-aged engineer who is separated from his wife. On his way to visit his son at boarding school, he runs into a group of 20-year-old youths. Fascinated by a youthful woman in this group – Francesca (Catherine Spaak) –, Antonio joins them for a weekend at the seaside. Because of his growing love for Francesca, he becomes the object of their increasingly sadistic jokes.
La voglia matta presents a merciless portrait of Italy in the 1960s, oscillating between vitality and incipient crisis. The protagonist is ready to be mocked by a group of spoilt daddy’s boys in order to conquer the sparkling Catherine Spaak, a naive and mischievous Lolita. While the generational clash assigns victory to the young, it does not fail to show their flaws and superficiality, as if to warn the viewer of the real possibility of social change in the country. Luciano Salce’s careful and sharp direction is supported by the two strong performances of Tognazzi and Spaak.
Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon Street, Carlton, VIC
With English subtitles. Free entrance. Booking essential here
