The Great Ambition

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Marco L (CASTELLANO) Hay películas que no solo cuentan hechos, sino que invitan a preguntarse cómo habría cambiado el mundo si las cosas hubieran ido de otra manera. La gran ambición recrea el intento histórico de acercamiento entre la Democracia Cristiana y el Partido Comunista en la Italia de los setenta, desde la mirada de Enrico Berlinguer. La tensión de la Guerra Fría late en cada diálogo, recordándonos que aquella apertura podía haber reconfigurado Europa entera. Lo más interesante es cómo la cinta muestra tanto la ilusión como los obstáculos. La narración se apoya en un rigor casi documental, pero sin perder el pulso humano de los personajes, especialmente gracias a un magnífico Elio Germano, que encarna al líder comunista con una mezcla de firmeza y vulnerabilidad. Puede que le falte algo de tensión dramática en algunos pasajes, pero su fuerza reside en el retrato político: las ideas, las dudas y la voluntad de encontrar un punto común en un mundo dividido en bloques. En ese sentido, funciona como reflexión histórica y también como pregunta abierta: ¿qué habría pasado si aquel compromiso hubiera llegado a buen puerto? El resultado es una obra sobria y lúcida, que combina nostalgia y melancolía con la sensación de estar presenciando un momento irrepetible. Una mirada necesaria a un tiempo en el que todavía parecía posible soñar con una política que cambiara la historia. (ENGLISH) Some films don’t just recount history, they make us wonder how the world might have changed if events had taken a different turn. The Great Ambition recreates the historic attempt at rapprochement between Italy’s Christian Democrats and the Communist Party in the 1970s, through the eyes of Enrico Berlinguer. The tension of the Cold War runs through every conversation, reminding us that such an opening could have reshaped Europe. What stands out is the balance between rigor and humanity. The film often leans on a documentary-like precision, but it never forgets the personal side of politics. Elio Germano delivers a remarkable performance, portraying Berlinguer with both strength and vulnerability. At times, the narrative lacks dramatic intensity, but its value lies in its political portrait: ideas, doubts, and the fragile hope of building common ground in a divided world. It leaves us with a haunting question: what if that compromise had succeeded? The result is a sober, lucid work, combining melancholy and nostalgia with the feeling of witnessing an unrepeatable moment. A necessary reflection on a time when politics still dared to dream. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/23/25 Full Review Runa R I give this film three stars, not because it lacks quality, but simply because it explains very little. Unless you're already familiar with Italian politics in the 1970s, much of it will go over your head. This kind of film — with a quasi-documentary style, even interspersing real archive footage — is one of my favourites, precisely because of the educational potential it often carries. But this one teaches very little. To grasp the essentials, you need to do your own research online, or turn to books, to fill in the gaps. But if you’re going to investigate separately, the value of a documentary film as an educational tool is somewhat lost. This film seems made for an already well-informed audience. It would have been helpful to include an extra 15 or 20 minutes of context, explaining the key concepts, protagonists and ideas, especially for international viewers or younger generations, who didn't live through these events and could genuinely learn from the film. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/02/25 Full Review Read all reviews

The Great Ambition

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