Although to an unprepared viewer this could seem a cheap movie, with weird acting and poor script, I think that reading it trying to get in the director's mind, with his intention clear, it deserves more respect, and at least 7 out of 10 stars.
Sure, the acting could be defined unrealistic, sometimes almost in bad taste, as some directing choices, like accelerating the appearance on screen of some characters but they also depict very well a kind of spirit of fascist Italy, the so called "Italietta", in which every Italian (officially) was proud to export his democracy and way of life and the cult of the Duce, not realizing (always, officially) that the lack of means and ideologies made him only ridiculous. This, obviously, refers also to the foreign policy of the U.S. nowadays, but i think the movie is best seen not thinking about modern politics, as it is already a nice, light, but yet profound picture of Italy seventy years ago.
Sure, the acting could be defined unrealistic, sometimes almost in bad taste, as some directing choices, like accelerating the appearance on screen of some characters but they also depict very well a kind of spirit of fascist Italy, the so called "Italietta", in which every Italian (officially) was proud to export his democracy and way of life and the cult of the Duce, not realizing (always, officially) that the lack of means and ideologies made him only ridiculous. This, obviously, refers also to the foreign policy of the U.S. nowadays, but i think the movie is best seen not thinking about modern politics, as it is already a nice, light, but yet profound picture of Italy seventy years ago.