The factory workers of a small town in Turin, Italy decide to go on strike to obtain better working conditions. They enlist the help of a professor (Mastroianni), who is passing through.
Monicelli is different from other Italian directors, as his films don't focus the crazy and camp (Pasolini, Fellini), or harsh neo-realism (Rossellini), but rather Italian Comedies. They aren't spoof or slapstick, and use a mixture of crazy Italian archetypes, unusual situations (rebelling against authority) and sad endings. 'The Organizer' is a fantastic ensemble comedy, with a large cast and great acting.
The film does feel, partially, like Rossellini's hard-hitting war trilogy, with the truths of poor living conditions shown explicitly. The characters include every Italian stereotype imaginable, including a crazy fat man, ladies with attitude, and loud children. The unflinching realism, matches well with the comedic characters and creates a funny and dramatic film. The narrative is linear and quite predictable, until the shock finale. Monicelli's films rarely end in happiness, so I should have expected the events of the end.
The wonderful characters are acted by some of Italy's finest. Marcello Mastroianni is widely known as Italy's greatest actor (thanks to '8 1/2'), and he appears in films by some of the world's greatest directors including Altman, Angelopoulos, Petri, Visconti and, of course, Fellini. He might be the best aspect of this film. Even his presence in the film elevates it to a high standard. There can't be many actors who can play the part of a fish-out-of-water professor any better. The scene where he gives a speech to persuade the workers to strike longer, sent shivers down my neck. The first time this has happened for a speech scene in a film.
The whole film is a resounding delight, even more enjoyable than 'The Great War'. It takes a while to get into, but when the characters are fully introduced and the professor arrives, the film is mesmerising.
An unexpected pleasure, that is powerful, funny and acted to perfection.
SCORE
80
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