"Il Posto" or "The Job" is an Italian black-and-white movie from 1961 that runs for slightly over 90 minutes and is among the more known works by notable Italian film director Ermanno Olmi, one of his early, but not very early, career efforts. This is ths story of Domenico (physically 60% Tobey Maguire, 30% Timthée Chalamet and 10% Tom Hiddleston) and he is at the center of the film from beginning to end. Early on we find out a bit about his family, then about his crush and finally about his colleagues. So it is a bit strange that the first credit here went to Loredana Detto. I mean she played her part well and probably the middle part in which she is a dominant force is the best the film has to offer, but still kinda strange. I wonder if it had to do with the fact that she married Olmi no less than two years later at a truly young age. When this film was made she was 15 or so and Olmi was 30, but things worked out well for these two and they stayed married for over 55 years until his death in spring last year, so chances are Detto never had another man in her life, at least not until she became a widow. Now lets not go any further into their relationship, but instead focus on the film. Also a bit strange that looking at the credits here on imdb with only these two listed on the front page, you could think it is a two-people movie from beginning to end with all other character being fairly insignificant, but that is not the case. Maybe secondary, even tertiary, but not pointless. The best example is the protagonist's young brother. The two don't have the greatest relationship to be honest compared to other movies with brothers, so there is nothing else there except Olmi telling us that Domenico has a brother. Little more focus is on his parents, but they are also not really what the film is about. We never find out about how (un)well their marriage is going etc. Instead we stay with Domenico, accompany him to a suitability test for an upcoming job he may enter. We see a problem they have to solve. Now I don#t know if it was just me and I don't want to sound full of myself, but it was pretty ridiculous they had an hour to do so and pretty much everybody mannaged the right result it seems. Slightly afterwards, there is a physical exam for all the applicants and eventually our "hero" is reinvited. There he also meets again the girl he has been crushing on for a while, the one played by Detto. The two talk a lot, walk around a bit, but eventually end up in different departments of the company, she as a typist, he as a messenger. And as their lunch time is also not synchronous. Still near the very end, they meet again and we find out there is a party for the employees whhere they may see each other again. So is a happy ending in store? Watch for yourself if so or if realism takes over. If you know a bit about Italian films from that era, then you maybe know the answer vaguely already.
This film felt a bit French at times too, certainly really European. The comedy is nice and was up my alley a lot of the time, so it was a fun watch too, even if it is never in your face. Still moments like the guy who shows our protagonist the ropes was funny, even if he had little to work with. But I liked his comment about how his wife only smiles and likes him at the end of the month when he brings the paycheck. Or the SS coat scene also had me more in stitches than I thought it would. Same about the scene briefly before the main character is employed when we have his future super busy boss there and get to watch (together with Domenico) his fascinating cafee routine that also involves his secretary. In general, this movie is a lot about situational comedy and awkwardness depicting characters' shticks and mannerisms and thus entertainingt he audience. The best example is during the test I mentioned earlier when we see one character who is ready super fast and another older characer who is unable to finish in time even. This is kinda typical Italian stuff from that time. You see it often that in films from that country and era small significant characters (and many of them) get one or two scenes each in which they can shine, which is fine with a film that does not really take itself seriously like this one here, but for more meaningful stuff I am struggling with the approach. Maybe this is also one reason why I did not like the final scene at the New Year's Eve party that much honestly because there were so many characters in here and the one we knew was just a silent shy observer basically, although it was again kinda fun how the lady also wants the boy at their table, but not without his alcoholic beverage gift. The final dancing scene then did nothing for me, even if I felt a bit sorry for Domenico that ge seemingly did not find/get the girl he was longing for. So mission accomplished for the writer I suppose as he got in the emotional connection. But with the next day at work again, the movie goes out on a high note again with this scene when they fight for the best table there. Now that was kinda hilarious. Like animals. And in the end, our Domenico ends up on the table with the struggling light bulb. Oh well that was a bit sobering honestly because even if he got promoted from messenger to accountant finally it does not really seem to be an improvement other than in terms of income, especially not with people looking at the kind mentor he had earlier and the girls who took an interest in him. He may just waste away behind that account table for the next 40 years or more. Yeah a bit sobering and not too happy. Okay that was all then. Overall, a good movie, even if I think that the rating here on imdb is a bit too high, but I've seen worse from that time for sure. Also a bit surprised it got this much awards recognition. Not entirely undeserving though and I am stll surprised the two main actors did not have prolific careers in the decades after this movie. Nice music as well. Go see it. A bit disappointing that this was almost a personal screening for me during my showing, just 2 other people. The reason is probably too that people know Pasolini, Fellini and a handful others when it comes to Italian movies from that time, but Olmi not so much. However, with this film here he proves he should be more famous still then he is nowadays. Watch.
This film felt a bit French at times too, certainly really European. The comedy is nice and was up my alley a lot of the time, so it was a fun watch too, even if it is never in your face. Still moments like the guy who shows our protagonist the ropes was funny, even if he had little to work with. But I liked his comment about how his wife only smiles and likes him at the end of the month when he brings the paycheck. Or the SS coat scene also had me more in stitches than I thought it would. Same about the scene briefly before the main character is employed when we have his future super busy boss there and get to watch (together with Domenico) his fascinating cafee routine that also involves his secretary. In general, this movie is a lot about situational comedy and awkwardness depicting characters' shticks and mannerisms and thus entertainingt he audience. The best example is during the test I mentioned earlier when we see one character who is ready super fast and another older characer who is unable to finish in time even. This is kinda typical Italian stuff from that time. You see it often that in films from that country and era small significant characters (and many of them) get one or two scenes each in which they can shine, which is fine with a film that does not really take itself seriously like this one here, but for more meaningful stuff I am struggling with the approach. Maybe this is also one reason why I did not like the final scene at the New Year's Eve party that much honestly because there were so many characters in here and the one we knew was just a silent shy observer basically, although it was again kinda fun how the lady also wants the boy at their table, but not without his alcoholic beverage gift. The final dancing scene then did nothing for me, even if I felt a bit sorry for Domenico that ge seemingly did not find/get the girl he was longing for. So mission accomplished for the writer I suppose as he got in the emotional connection. But with the next day at work again, the movie goes out on a high note again with this scene when they fight for the best table there. Now that was kinda hilarious. Like animals. And in the end, our Domenico ends up on the table with the struggling light bulb. Oh well that was a bit sobering honestly because even if he got promoted from messenger to accountant finally it does not really seem to be an improvement other than in terms of income, especially not with people looking at the kind mentor he had earlier and the girls who took an interest in him. He may just waste away behind that account table for the next 40 years or more. Yeah a bit sobering and not too happy. Okay that was all then. Overall, a good movie, even if I think that the rating here on imdb is a bit too high, but I've seen worse from that time for sure. Also a bit surprised it got this much awards recognition. Not entirely undeserving though and I am stll surprised the two main actors did not have prolific careers in the decades after this movie. Nice music as well. Go see it. A bit disappointing that this was almost a personal screening for me during my showing, just 2 other people. The reason is probably too that people know Pasolini, Fellini and a handful others when it comes to Italian movies from that time, but Olmi not so much. However, with this film here he proves he should be more famous still then he is nowadays. Watch.