A Leap in the Dark

Unrated

12/3/19821h 54m

Theatrical Release (US)

Overview:

Mauro, a judge, is worried about his older sister Marta, who took care of him since he was a boy, and now suffers from mental illness and suicidal thoughts. She seems to recover from her depression when Mauro acquaints her with Giovanni, a brilliant actor at the edge of legality. However, Mauro becomes unconsciously jealous of their relationship.

Director:

Marco Bellocchio

Status:

Released

Language:

Italian

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

Cast

Michel Piccoli

~ as ~

Mauro Ponticelli

Anouk Aimée

~ as ~

Marta Ponticelli

Michele Placido

~ as ~

Giovanni Sciabola

Gisella Burinato

~ as ~

Anna

Antonio Piovanelli

~ as ~

Quasimodo

Anna Orso

~ as ~

Marilena

Giampaolo Saccarola

~ as ~

Insane Brother

Adriana Pecorelli

~ as ~

Sonia

Franca Maria De Monti

~ as ~

Paola Ciampi

~ as ~

Ponticelli's Mother

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 1 year(s) ago
7
Yikes, but what part of the Italian legal establishment doesn't come in for some pillorying from Marco Bellochio in this film? It all centres around judge "Mauro" (Michel Piccoli) and his ailing sister "Marta" (Anouk Aimée) who has pretty much brought him up. She isn't coping so well with reality and is frequently prone to suicidal flights of fancy until, that is, he introduces her to the rather roguish actor "Giovanni" (Michele Placido) to whom she takes a bit of a shine. It's the first time her brother hasn't been the sole focus of her attentions since they were children, so despite himself he starts to become a little jealous. He's not a man without influence around town, so decides to use that to ensure that this little fly in his familial ointment is duly swatted. There's a grand dynamic between the three characters as they are used to take swipes at family politics, envy and resentment and we also manage to have a go at some entertainingly small town provincial politics, petty corruption and eccentricities as this two hours really does fly by. It does play a little to stereotypes of age and attitude at times, and is maybe just a bit over-scripted but it's a slightly quirkier look at flawed domesticity and Aimée looks like she enjoyed herself for most of it.