Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Before the Revolution

Released May 12, 1964 1h 55m Drama List
93% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A bourgeois Italian (Francesco Barilli) beds his aunt (Adriana Asti) and shuns the Communists in Parma.

Where to Watch

Before the Revolution

Critics Reviews

View All (15) Critics Reviews
Philip French Guardian Altogether a dazzling film, both continually vital and something of a time capsule. Apr 10, 2011 Full Review Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard Both the vices and virtues of youthful confidence are apparent in its muddied complexity and fluid brilliance. Rated: 4/5 Apr 8, 2011 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian A cerebral and involving film whose vigour is undimmed after 47 years. Rated: 4/5 Apr 7, 2011 Full Review Pauline Kael LIFE Before the Revolution doesn't widen the screen; it makes you widen your eyes. The world has opened: it is the power of art. Apr 19, 2022 Full Review Philip Strick Monthly Film Bulletin The style, the narrative and the message may not be particularly revolutionary in themselves, but Bertolucci as a director with enormous promise is still in there, pitching away. Feb 22, 2017 Full Review Penelope Houston The Spectator A brilliant, crammed, allusive work. Apr 25, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (21) audience reviews
Audience Member For a film called "Before the Revolution" and centres around a young man grappling with whether he should conform to his bourgeois life or let his rebellious zeal — further triggered by his friend's death — take over him, pursuing a life of political radicalism, I was genuinely surprised how almost apolitical this turns out to be. Adopting an abstract approach to zero in on Fabrizio's struggle is more than welcome by me, since this should allow his emotional turmoil to be more universal. But themes of cowardice versus rebellious tendencies are barely there, and those related to the central illicit affair as well as conflicted ideals are drowned out in Bertolucci's indulgent influences. Before the Revolution is loaded with febrile energy for its own good. With discombobulating non-stop mobility of camerawork, tonnes of tracking shots and frequent zooming in and out, and rapid-fire editing and jump cuts that rendered some scenes nearly vignette-like, I found the story so hard to follow and my interest tapped out about 15 minutes in. Plus, none of these devices amount to much really, and neither is the frivolous and histrionic dialogue. Only some incredible aerial shots of Parma and Ennio Morricone's feverish and emotive score are what kept me from giving this an even lower rating. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review William L I imagine that the Venn diagram that shows the well-to-do with a passion for social causes compared to those who enjoy vintage world cinema is approaching a circle, so it makes sense that Bertolucci's Before the Revolution would have grown in esteem as the years go by. A rarely covered character archetype that transcends generations - those born into comfortable circumstances who empathize with social causes, causes that often clash with the circumstances that led to their own status. It's a difficult relationship to manage, being indebted to a system that one is ideologically opposed to, but one that nevertheless gave you advantages in life that others sorely lack. Some throw away everything but are typically criticized as 'faux rebels', while others grow jaded or indifferent and sink back into their birthright. Barilli's Fabrizio is left to try to pick apart his personality, to differentiate what is truly sincere from simple youthful passions. More thematically refined than should be expected from a filmmaker of his age, it's not necessarily the greatest Italian masterpiece of its era, but it doesn't have to be - the film has enough strength to stand on its own merit, with an exploration of disaffected youth that goes beyond the limits of oft-explored urban streets alone. (3.5/5) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/20/21 Full Review S R 1001 movies to see before you die. A romantic drama about a young couple in Parma Italy that was a little incestous. It was a good look at their culture, but had an odd ironic socialist undertone with the man being an elite socialist coming from privilege. It did resonate, but then the woman seemed a bit loony. It was interesting. RUS. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Bernardo Bertolucci's first groundbreaking masterpiece? Indeed it's full of his visions and ideals, but I just don't give a damn about them thanks to the tedious dialogues. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Absolutely gorgeously shot - especially since it was an apprentice effort from Bertolucci. A real tension between wanting to be a rebel and almost accepting that you are just as bourgeois as everyone else. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Bertolucci was still developing his technique when he made this flawed, imperfect attempt at an Italian Nouvelle Vague film that is in fact more about style than substance, made by someone full of ideas but who would still need time to mature his vision of things. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Before the Revolution

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

The Conformist 98% 90% The Conformist TRAILER for The Conformist Camille 2000 14% 62% Camille 2000 Accattone 100% 88% Accattone The Grim Reaper 86% 67% The Grim Reaper Red Desert 94% 85% Red Desert Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis A bourgeois Italian (Francesco Barilli) beds his aunt (Adriana Asti) and shuns the Communists in Parma.
Director
Bernardo Bertolucci
Screenwriter
Bernardo Bertolucci, Gianni Amico
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
May 12, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 31, 2020
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm
Most Popular at Home Now