La scommessa – Una notte in corsia | Italian Cineclub
Italian Cineclub
A CYNICAL AND GROTESQUE COMEDY ABOUT HUMAN MISERY
A CYNICAL AND GROTESQUE COMEDY ABOUT HUMAN MISERY
Is it still possible to create a comedy today—perhaps even a cynical and ruthless one—without resorting to vulgarity? Director Giovanni Dota attempts to answer this question with his latest film, which he describes, paraphrasing the great Monicelli, as “a tragedy that makes you laugh.” This film draws inspiration from the spirit of Italian cinema from the 1950s and 1960s, placing it in the same category as Dino Risi’s “I Mostri,” featuring memorable performances by Gassman and Tognazzi portraying human misery.
Carlo Buccirosso, now established as a leading actor, plays Angelo, while Lino Musella takes on the role of Salvatore, two nurses working in a Naples hospital. Angelo is an unfaithful husband dealing with the jealousy of his wife, excellently played by Iaia Forte. Salvatore has just returned from a vacation in Ibiza with his mother, and both men find themselves struggling with a gambling addiction.
The story unfolds on Ferragosto night when Caputo, an elderly patient in serious condition, is admitted to the ward. Bored and waiting for something to happen, the two nurses decide to gamble on the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holiday shifts, betting on whether the patient will survive until the following day. This leads to an all-out competition to win the bet, employing various means, both legitimate and not.
The film’s events take place over a span of twelve hours, from the evening until the next morning, and it was showcased in the Notti Veneziane section at the most recent Venice Film Festival.
Flavio Aulino