Pasqualino Settebellezze (1975)

Film: Pasqualino Settebellezze

Director: Lina Wertmüller

Country: Italy

Released: December 1976

Runtime: 115 minutes

Genre: Comedy

Studio: Medusa

Influenced: Scorsese, Pedro Almodóvar, Paolo Sorrentino, Alice Rohrwacher, Susanna Nicchiarelli

Drawing inspiration from her own experiences during the war, Lina Wertmüller sought with Pasqualino Settebellezze – known as Seven Beauties in the English-speaking world – to create a powerful and thought-provoking film that would delve into the complexities of human behaviour in extreme circumstances. It's a very hectic viewing experience that leaves the audience with almost no room to breathe, moving as it does so rapidly from place to place, including Fascist Italy and German concentration camps. There's a specific Italian tone to the movie, and Wertmüller became known for the dark humour and provocative themes of her films, in this case exploring the survival instincts and moral compromises of main character, Pasqualino Frafuso (Giancarlo Giannini).

Frafuso is a a small-time crook and pimp from Naples who sinks so low that he will do anything to survive (murder, rape), living his life without a moral centre. The film is not a commentary on toxic masculinity or Italian machismo; Wertmüller clearly has genuine sympathy for what certain people had to go through during wartime and her intent is to hold up a mirror, not pass judgment. She is reflecting a general shame felt in Italy about how her country ended up following a leader like Mussolini, who appears in the film's opening shots. The story begins in Naples, where Pasqualino's seven sisters depend on him for protection and financial support. He is driven by a strong sense of family honour but lacks integrity. After being ridiculed by a rival gangster, Pasqualino seeks revenge and accidentally kills him.

Realising he will face severe consequences, Pasqualino flees to avoid prosecution and conscription into the Italian Army. However, he is captured and sent to a German concentration camp. In the camp, Pasqualino's survival instincts kick in and he ingratiates himself with the Nazi commandant, captivating him with tales of his seven beautiful sisters. Pasqualino's desperate attempts to save himself and maintain his dignity lead him to betray his fellow inmates, including a political prisoner named Francesco, with whom he had formed a close bond. Through a series of darkly comedic and tragic events, Pasqualino manages to escape the camp but becomes a prisoner of war.

As the war nears its end, Pasqualino is captured by the Allies and put on trial for his war crimes. The film culminates in a courtroom scene where Pasqualino desperately tries to justify his actions, attempting to convince the judges that his survival instincts compelled him to commit unspeakable acts. Wertmüller's bold approach in tackling sensitive subjects like survival, betrayal and the loss of morality during wartime was groundbreaking. She became the first woman to be nominated for a directing Oscar for Pasqualino Settebellezze, which received four Oscar nominations in total and garnered widespread critical acclaim. The film was celebrated for its unflinching portrayal of the horrors of war and its examination of the moral choices individuals make in extreme circumstances, but what made Wertmüller's approach so unique was the irreverent tone of the film and her ability to find humour and fun amid the darkest themes.