Smooth surface, fierce undertow
1954, Italy, Black & White, 134 minutes
Written and directed Jorge Balaloba
Starring Talgada Ferri, Calderoza Bertuno, Frerita Frerrer
The thoroughly depressing “realisimo” tale of a poor man who spends his family's weekly food budget on lapel cripener so he can look presentable in a job interview. He loses out on the job to the boss's playboy son and spirals downwards into depression, madness, suicide, zombie wandering, family eating, lapel floppery, and eventual quarantine on a rapidly melting iceberg. Only the third act's religious hallucinations give this any sort of 'what the fuck' entertainment value.
Watch out for – the only known film footage of legendary lapel crisper sales man 'Solapa' Manzinni.
Quote – “Surface. Melting surface. In the sun you are no better than the sea.”
Reviewed by R.P. Thunderdunk
