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The Conformist

Play trailer 1:40 Poster for The Conformist R 1970 1h 51m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 59 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In Mussolini's Italy, repressed Jean-Louis Trintignant, trying to purge memories of a youthful, homosexual episode -- and murder -- joins the Fascists in a desperate attempt to fit in. As the reluctant Judas motors to his personal Gethsemane (the assassination of his leftist mentor), he flashes back to a dance party for the blind; an insane asylum in a stadium; and wife Stefania Sandrelli and lover Dominique Sanda dancing the tango in a working class hall. But those are only a few of this political thriller's anthology pieces, others including Trintignant's honeymoon coupling with Sandrelli in a train compartment as the sun sets outside their window; a bimbo lolling on the desk of a fascist functionary, glimpsed in the recesses of his cavernous office; a murder victim's hands leaving bloody streaks on a limousine parked in a wintry forest.

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The Conformist

The Conformist

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Critics Consensus

A commentary on fascism and beauty alike, Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist is acclaimed for its sumptuous visuals and extravagant, artful cinematography.

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Critics Reviews

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Aja Romano Vox 12/03/2018
It's easy to overlook how stark The Conformist's political and allegorical message is because it's just so damn beautiful. Go to Full Review Keith Phipps The Dissolve 11/24/2014
5/5
It's yesteryear remembered with a combination of nostalgia and repulsion, a queasy combination that defines the film and gives it a kind of hideous allure. Go to Full Review Andrew O'Hehir Salon.com 08/29/2014
The unsettling blend of images and ideas in this movie cannot satisfactorily be disentangled or decoded, and it's the very strangeness of Bertolucci's masterpiece that has made it so influential in cinema history. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Jan 6
5/5
…a classic tale of ‘slaughter and melancholy’ that feels more relevant in 2026 than ever…the literal smoke and mirrors look created by cinematographer Vittorio Storaro evokes a huge emotional range of images, from cold and clinical to warm and sensual… Go to Full Review Ray Pride Newcity 05/14/2023
10/10
Lush, even drenching 1970 masterpiece... A cinematic confection of near-perfection at high velocity, its stylistic prowess and textural largesse is often cited as a major influence by [may major] directors including Steven Spielberg. Go to Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills 04/20/2023
All this adds up to something more than mere style, or mannerism—even if it was not a very precise match to Moravia’s coolly detached prose, which perhaps more exactly portrayed Marcello’s amoral soullessess... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kyle M @RT77296778 Apr 28 A further breakthrough for Bertolucci bolstered by his visual style via the hypnotic cinematography’s attempted immersion that neatly captures the mustered humanity in the performative convictions comprehending the discourse’s complex dissolution substantially haunted over considerable exploration. (B+) See more Chris M. @a10tive1 Nov 30 A stunningly photographed film that will have you dreaming of becoming a cinematographer. Storaro was running on inspiration. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Sep 8 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more bob c @RT46426964 Jun 10 A 1970 Italian political parable set in 1930s. Nicely filmed and restored. The political stuff is like being hit over the head with it, 1960s style. So: a dated classic for your memory archive. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 8 Success in 1 hour and 51 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!! In Italian and English versions with English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Dani G @RT81139271 03/18/2025 Honestly, I didn't got it entirely. It kept me interested, but I was missing something I think See more Read all reviews
The Conformist

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Cast & Crew

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Bernardo Bertolucci

Director

Jean-Louis Trintignant

Marcello

Stefania Sandrelli

Giulia

Dominique Sanda

Anna Quadri

Pierre Clémenti

Lino

Gastone Moschin

Manganiello

Movie Clips

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The Conformist

The Conformist: Official Clip - A Killer's Forced Confession The Conformist: Official Clip - A Killer's Forced Confession 2:59 The Conformist: Official Clip - He Slapped THE SH*T Out Of His Mom's Pimp! The Conformist: Official Clip - He Slapped THE SH*T Out Of His Mom's Pimp! 2:03 The Conformist: Official Clip - The Coldest Assassination The Conformist: Official Clip - The Coldest Assassination 2:09 The Conformist: Official Clip - When Your Wife and Mistress Sexy Dance… The Conformist: Official Clip - When Your Wife and Mistress Sexy Dance… 2:40 The Conformist: Official Clip - Flowers for His Wife... or Mistress? The Conformist: Official Clip - Flowers for His Wife... or Mistress? 2:24 The Conformist: Official Clip - You're All FASCISTS! The Conformist: Official Clip - You're All FASCISTS! 3:29 The Conformist: Official Clip - Starting An Affair (While Your Wife's Nearby) The Conformist: Official Clip - Starting An Affair (While Your Wife's Nearby) 1:44 The Conformist: Official Clip - Shooting Your Mistress The Conformist: Official Clip - Shooting Your Mistress 1:13 The Conformist: Official Clip - I'm NOT A Virgin The Conformist: Official Clip - I'm NOT A Virgin 1:50 View more videos

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The Conformist

The Conformist: Trailer 1 The Conformist: Trailer 1 1:40 View more videos
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The Conformist

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Movie Info

Synopsis In Mussolini's Italy, repressed Jean-Louis Trintignant, trying to purge memories of a youthful, homosexual episode -- and murder -- joins the Fascists in a desperate attempt to fit in. As the reluctant Judas motors to his personal Gethsemane (the assassination of his leftist mentor), he flashes back to a dance party for the blind; an insane asylum in a stadium; and wife Stefania Sandrelli and lover Dominique Sanda dancing the tango in a working class hall. But those are only a few of this political thriller's anthology pieces, others including Trintignant's honeymoon coupling with Sandrelli in a train compartment as the sun sets outside their window; a bimbo lolling on the desk of a fascist functionary, glimpsed in the recesses of his cavernous office; a murder victim's hands leaving bloody streaks on a limousine parked in a wintry forest.
Director
Bernardo Bertolucci
Producer
Maurizio Lodi-Fè
Screenwriter
Bernardo Bertolucci, Alberto Moravia
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Mars Film, Marianne Productions, Maran Film
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 22, 1970, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jan 6, 2023
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 24, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$179.7K
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)