Todo Modo

Todo Modo

1976. Italy/France. Directed by Elio Petri. With Gian Maria Volontè, Mariangela Melato, Marcello Mastroianni. Freely based on Leonardo Sciascia’s book, this grotesque and surreal depiction of the Italian ruling class of the 1960s and 1970s is eerily evocative of today’s political machinations. Set during a retreat of Christian Democrat politicians who practice spiritual exercises together, it is an allegory of corrupted power. Disturbing, claustrophobic settings are the background to a series of mysterious crimes. Ferretti and Petri scouted for the right location for a long time before deciding to reconstruct interiors that would evoke modern catacombs at Cinecittà studios, though a few scenes were shot in real catacombs near Rome. In Italian; English subtitles. 125 min.