Mario Monicelli is definitely one of the greatest directors of Italian cinema and Alberto Sordi is an absolute Genius. Here they team up again...And what a great fun it was to discover this less known little gem of the early eighties! Sordi is an atypical and fanciful aristocrat who plays the fool to forget the emptiness and uselessness of his own life in the context of french Napoleonic troops invading Italy, bringing along a few revolutionary ideas...It's a light, refreshing and very enjoyable comedy, addressing some very serious and deep questions like the power of the Catholic Church and the Pope, the aristocrats' privileges, justice, corruption, forgiveness and much more. There is even a delicious part where a coal cutter is being mistaken as the marquis, Sordi having great fun playing both roles...Indeed you can watch it many times and you will be amazed how fun and deep this movie can be.
