Il conformista

Bernardo Bertolucci's Il conformista ( The Conformist ) (1970), a political drama set in Mussolini's Fascist Italy, is widely recognised as a masterpiece of post-war cinema, a classic of Italian and European cinema and an inspiration for many other film-makers, particularly those of the American New Wave.

Christopher Wagstaff's illuminating study of the film traces its pre-production and production history, considering how Bertolucci adapted Alberto Moravia's source novel for the screen. He provides a careful analysis of Il conformista's formal, stylistic and aesthetic strategies, paying close attention to editing, lighting and mise en scène , and their contribution to the film's impact. Wagstaff also addresses debates about the sexual politics of the film and its place in a wider political and cultural debate about the legacy of fascism.

This special edition of Il conformista is published to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the BFI Film Classics series.