Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man (1982)

Synopsis: Bernardo Bertolucci's comic character study focuses on "ridiculous man" Primo Spaggiari (Ugo Tognazzi), the amiably grizzled owner of a cheese factory in Parma. When his son, Giovanni, is kidnapped, Primo realizes that he will have to... Bernardo Bertolucci's comic character study focuses on "ridiculous man" Primo Spaggiari (Ugo Tognazzi), the amiably grizzled owner of a cheese factory in Parma. When his son, Giovanni, is kidnapped, Primo realizes that he will have to sell his business to pay the ransom. The idea of throwing away his life's work gives him pause, however, though his wife, Barbara (Anouk Aimee), intends to stop at nothing to raise the money. Primo's crisis of conscience is a protracted one, partly because on one level he enjoys prolonging the intrigue--especially since it brings him into contact with his son's seductive (and politically minded) girlfriend, Laura (Laura Morante). Primo finds out much about his wife, son, and workers that he did not expect as the plot takes surprising twists. Bertolucci somehow finds himself sympathetic to his protagonist, for though he is on the owner side of a labor dispute, as well as a selfish sentimentalist who covets his son's lover, Primo's only real crime is his dubiousness toward the many voices who ask him to give his soul to their causes. [More]

Starring: Ugo Tognazzi, Anouk Aimée, Laura Morante, Victor Cavallo

Starring: Ugo Tognazzi, Anouk Aimée, Laura Morante, Victor Cavallo, Olimpia Carlisi, Vittorio Caprioli, Renato Salvatori

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Composer: Ennio Morricone

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