User reviews

Based loosely on Voltaire's satirical novella Candide:Optimism, this wild Italian sex comedy is a film like no other. It is funny, thought provoking, and somewhat Felliniesque in its circus like atmosphere/scenes. This must be one of the most truly interesting silly films in all of the world. It's silly, yes, but also quite brilliant in my estimation. Definitely well worth watching for most fans of European film.

Voltaire's original work which today is considered his greatest masterwork was essentially an attack at the passivity inspired by Leibniz's philosophy of optimism. Like other philosophers of the day, Candide also contends with the problem of evil. Though Voltaire's approach to this and many other subjects was far from typical and certainly far more humorous than most. Voltaire is an extremely important historical figure due to his fearlessness in challenging ideas and authorities of all kinds. He was an outspoken and controversial figure who fought for civil liberties, freedom of speech and freedom of religion, as well as against censorship. In much of his work, through both directness and humor Voltaire ridicules religion, theologians, governments, armies, philosophies and philosophers alike. Voltaire was in fact among the world's first ever authors to become famous and commercially successful internationally. It is fairly widely believed that Voltaire did not hold to an optimistic, nor to a pessimistic view, but rather to a belief that we must act or work to help create the world around us. Some have summed up this practical belief noted in Candide's conclusion as "We Must Cultivate Our Garden.". 8/10.

Despite the title, this isn't yet another repellent documentary by the notorious film-makers behind MONDO CANE (1962) et al; rather, it's an adaptation – their only 'proper' feature as a team – of the popular allegory "Candide" by the celebrated French author Voltaire. Incidentally, I own this classic piece of literature and, in fact, had read it some years ago; while I can't objectively determine the film's actual proximity to the source novel (also for reasons I'll get to later), as I lay watching it, I certainly recalled the episodic and essentially tasteless nature of the plot (placing the subject matter firmly down the film-makers' alley!) – not to mention connotations relating to the main characters (the naively optimistic hero Candide, his long-suffering lover Cunegonde – serenely accepting every card dealt her by Fate – and the boy's infuriatingly practical mentor Dr. Pangloss), and even key phrases from the book!!

Voltaire's narrative thrust the titular character (after being banished for ravishing Cunegonde) into all the socio-political strife that went on in that particular era; in hindsight, little has changed throughout the centuries – and, in fact, this satirical- picaresque style has influenced other notable works including Evelyn Waugh's "Decline And Fall" (filmed in 1968) and Lindsay Anderson's second "Mick Travis" adventure O LUCKY MAN! (1973). "Candide" itself has been adapted for cinema and TV a number of times, with perhaps the most interesting version being the 1960 French film (which updates the tale to WWII) with an all-star cast – Jean-Pierre Cassel (as the hero), Daliah Lavi (Cunegonde), Pierre Brasseur (Pangloss), Michel Simon, Louis De Funes, Michel Serrault, etc. As for MONDO CANDIDO, it starts off in period vein but then switches to more recent times and events (presumably for a greater political immediacy) – so that we see Candide & Co. involved with IRA bombings, Jewish freedom-fighters, even hippies; that said, it maintains a curious balance throughout of old and new: for instance, at one point Cunegonde is raped by a rocker dressed in a knight's outfit(!) - which emerges to be perhaps the film's comic/absurd highlight. For this reason, the ever-reliable Riz Ortolani provides a suitably eclectic score.

Given its considerable length of 110 minutes (and with the only notable performers in the cast being Jacques Herlin as Pangloss and popular Italian comic Gianfranco D'Angelo as Cunegonde's campy Baron father), it's small wonder that the film bogs down after the IRA scenes. Nevertheless, it features ample nudity and violence (notably the slow-motion massacre of the Jewish troops) – to say nothing of weirdness – to keep the interest alive (and is good-looking into the bargain).

Candide is a nice, innocent young man who is raised in a castle of a noble family in Westphalia during the medieval age. Dr. Pangloss, a teacher of metaphysics and philosophy educates him and tells that he lives in the best of all possible worlds and that any apparent absurdity, misery and conflict are actually all parts of a greater good that mortals cannot perceive. The happy life of Candido changes drastically when he falls in love with the Baron's daughter Cunegonda and is caught with her. Candide is banned from the castle and starts traveling into a timeless world, searching for his lost love. Candide attempts to stay optimistic as unbelievable horrors unfold in a world full of brutality, war, slavery and sickness...

The makers of this movie base the film on a cynical satire `Candide' from the French writer Voltaire. Directors Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi are known for their documentaries in which they have already presented the horrors of the world: MONDO CANE (part 1 and 2), AFRICA ADDIO and the very revolting ADDIO ZIO TOM. In comparison with other shockumentaries, all these movies are very well directed, have a racy comment and contain unforgettable images. "Mondo Candido" is a masterpiece. It's sensational, sometimes shocking but you will see a series of unforgettable images, very beautifully filmed, even though they are cruel, nihilistic and pessimistic. The superb musical score from Riz Ortolani is available now, but it is very difficult to find this exceptional movie.

Rating:10!

Starting off as some kind of a typical Italian, gross, sexy comedy of the seventies, I wasn't really expecting it could end up digging into me. Lousy gags everywhere, absurd, unacceptable, incoherent sights (I mean, naked female Israeli fighters, come on) and featuring Gianfranco D'Angelo as the baron. "Thrash" seemed the only viable label for that. But as the movie goes on, incoherence, harass and nonsense build up to such an amount (and even mix up with suggestive images) one must admit it really is *something*. Some good time to spend for those who loved "mondo cane," but I probably wouldn't mind enough to start a video shop hunt for it (in fact it was being aired overnight by Italian stations.)

This movie reminds me at the work of Fellini. It's perhaps even more cynical and extravagant. But "Mondo Candido" is a true, genuine, masterpiece, a rare gem coming from the colourful imagination of the Italian directors team Jacopetti & Prosperi who were responsible for the shockumentaries in the past. Behind this kaleidoscope of violence, black humour and pessimism you will find a series of metaphors and a lot of symbolism. We can only hope that this movie will become available in widescreen on DVD in the future... Highly recommended!