One of the oddities of film distribution is that even films by acclaimed filmmakers such as Vittorio DeSica (four Oscar winners) sometimes fall through the cracks. DeSica's 1963 Italian comedy is finally receiving a U.S. release via Rialto. The restoration is excellent.
The film itself is quite good with a script by another Italian film legend - Cesare Zavattini (DeSica's BICYCLE THIEF & UMBERTO D) and starring the great Alberto Sordi. IL BOOM is about the post-war boom in Italy and the Dolce Vita lifestyle those who exploited it were able to live. Sordi is happily married to a trophy wife and they have a small child, but he finds himself spending more than he earns to keep up 'appearances'. But, like DeSica's other 'comedies' such as MIRACLE IN MILAN, there is always more on the filmmakers mind than jokes. Indeed, IL BOOM gets pretty dark - very dark, in fact. There are some awkward comedy moments, but the film works as a satirical cautionary tale. Fine cinematography by Armando Nannuzzi and a rollicking 60s lounge score by Piero Piccioni really brings the Roman Sweet Life to the screen.
++++++++++++SPOILER ALERT+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
P.S. Interesting plot point that parallels the Night Gallery pilot segment directed by some long forgotten nobody Director named Spielberg or something...
The film itself is quite good with a script by another Italian film legend - Cesare Zavattini (DeSica's BICYCLE THIEF & UMBERTO D) and starring the great Alberto Sordi. IL BOOM is about the post-war boom in Italy and the Dolce Vita lifestyle those who exploited it were able to live. Sordi is happily married to a trophy wife and they have a small child, but he finds himself spending more than he earns to keep up 'appearances'. But, like DeSica's other 'comedies' such as MIRACLE IN MILAN, there is always more on the filmmakers mind than jokes. Indeed, IL BOOM gets pretty dark - very dark, in fact. There are some awkward comedy moments, but the film works as a satirical cautionary tale. Fine cinematography by Armando Nannuzzi and a rollicking 60s lounge score by Piero Piccioni really brings the Roman Sweet Life to the screen.
++++++++++++SPOILER ALERT+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
P.S. Interesting plot point that parallels the Night Gallery pilot segment directed by some long forgotten nobody Director named Spielberg or something...