Before the Revolution

Released May 12, 1964

1h 55m

Drama

List

93%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

67%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

A bourgeois Italian (Francesco Barilli) beds his aunt (Adriana Asti) and shuns the Communists in Parma.

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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

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

A cerebral and involving film whose vigour is undimmed after 47 years.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 7, 2011

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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

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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

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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

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Bernardo Bertolucci

Director

Francesco Barilli

Fabrizio

Adriana Asti

Gina

Alain Midgette

Agostino

Morando Morandini

Cesare

Domenico Alpi

The father

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98%

90%

The Conformist

TRAILER

for The Conformist

14%

62%

Camille 2000

100%

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Accattone

86%

67%

The Grim Reaper

94%

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Red Desert

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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

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