Divorce -- Italian Style

Here Italy is quick and witty, in contrast to the foregoing. Pietro Germi’s comedy holds up very well indeed, but it’s amazing that it was nominated for three Academy Awards, and won for Best Original Screenplay (a different era in film, for sure, though maybe Almodovar is the modern avatar.) Marcello Mastrioanni was certainly worthy of his Best Actor nod, a genius performer and an immensely appealing personality, even as a Sicilian baron scheming to dispose of his ardent but mustachioed wife so he can marry his 16-year-old cousin. I relished the satire on “my people,” however far away I was raised from those sun-baked stones, with their “men of honor” so slithery and wicked, buffoonish and yet somehow ingratiating. (1962, dvd, r.) *8*