The Conformist: the title character of Bernardo Bertolucci’s pre-war political thriller is a young man who, as the fascists rise to power in Italy, decides to join the ranks and is given an assassination mission of a former professor opposed to the new regime. The protagonist is an unlikable young man, but the film is psychologically rich and interesting. Jean-Louis Trintignant plays him coldly and serious, in an effective performance.
Stefania Sandrelli and Dominique Sanda play his new wife and an old flame, both instrumental to the story. The true star of the film, in an case, is cinematographer Vittorio Storaro: both his camerawork and his lighting are exquisite, stylized and beautiful, creating a surreal sense of space (magnifying the work of production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti and the choice of locations) appropriate to the story. Costume designer Gitt Magrini dresses the performers well, particularly the two actresses. Editor Franco Arcalli gives the non-linear strcture a good deal of energy, and composer Georges Delerue’s musical score fits well the material.