Marcello wakes up with a annoying whistle in his ears and with a message from his girlfriend Alice tells him that his friend Louis is dead, but he does not remember his existence. This is the plot on which this particular and intelligent comedy develops, very cheap (about 150,000 euros, less than a third of a low budget movie) but very well both in technical and narrative terms. Already the size of the image is particular: the film starts with a square format of 1:1 and then goes to the classical 1.85:1, this choice is not random and is closely related to the narrative plan and the development of Marcello's story but not I say something else to avoid spoiling it. The film is shot in a great black and white I do not know how about stylistic choice and how much for lack of funds anyway the result is great, photography along with the assembly (very dynamic especially in the first part) and the beautiful soundtrack are combined in a very fluid and pleasant way. I have to say two words about the cast that is top-notch and seems to have moved the whole project to the point of giving up its remuneration, the characters are very well-defined and there are many comic scenes and funny finds. Above all, the choice of secondary characters seems to be very good, contributing to the success of absurd gags, often mute, in which the only faces or looks of the characters induce a smile or a laugh. In short, this film is funny,intelligent, never vulgar or unguarded, and this is another point in favor of this second work. Now let's go to what I think least works in this great film, the second part loses much of the rhythm we've seen in the first part and the dialogues are lengthy and sometimes become almost repetitive as Marcello's final monologue expires in a moralism typical of a certain Italian cinema. Even some gags, as veritable and fun, are perhaps a bit forced to risk slipping into the snout. Overall, however, it is a movie to be seen, fun and desecrating at the right point that in my opinion will become a little cult movie.
