The Conformist (Il Conformista) (Il conformista)

THE CONFORMIST

It's me.

Everything all right?

What do you mean, she's gone? She's gone too?

I'll be waiting outside the hotel.

Who could have imagined a thing like that, sir?

When he went down to the street, it was still dark.

Then the front door opened again and she came out too.

I thought she must have come down to say goodbye to him.

Instead she opens the car door,

puts the dog in, gets in herself and they're off.

Aren't you listening?

Yes. Yes.

Damn it. We could have done without this.

Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, I followed the instructions.

So you've made up your mind? What will you get from marriage?

I don't know. The impression of normality.

- Normality! - Yes. Stability, security.

In the morning when I'm getting dressed I look in the mirror

and it seems like I look different from everybody else.

- What do you like about Giulia? - I don't know.

- Maybe her body, her sensuality. - Yeah? And what about her?

As soon as we're alone she jumps on me.

- And then? - We always end up rolling on the carpet.

- And the maid with the big tits? - Oh, she's part of the dowry.

So you're getting married and I'm losing my best friend.

But I'm...happy.

Two minutes and you're on.

- You're sure he's coming? - The Colonel? Of course. He'll be here.

He promised me. He's very interested.

Try and keep calm. It's funny, though, you know.

Everyone wants to be different

but you want to be the same as everybody else.

Ten years ago, my father was in Munich.

He told me that often, after the theatre...

...he used to go to a beer hall with his friends.

There was a funny man there who wasn't quite right.

He'd talk about politics.

He'd become quite an attraction.

They'd buy him beer and egg him on.

He'd climb onto a table and make furious speeches.

It was Hitler.

Ladies and gentlemen, that was "Who's Happier Than Me?"

by Cesare Andrea Bixio.

That's the end of our popular music programme with the Arcangeli Orchestra.

The singers were Silvana Fioresi, Oscar Carboni,

Lina Termini and the Rondinelle Trio.

We bring you now "Mystique of an Alliance",

a talk by Italo Montanari.

Italy and Germany, the cornerstones of two civilisations.

Over the centuries,

each of their encounters marks a turning point...

...in the course of history.

Once again, these two peoples are rediscovering their ancient virtues

and their reciprocal and long-forgotten similarities,

what Goebbels calls the Prussian aspect of Benito Mussolini

and what we see as the Latin aspect of Hitler.

Italy and Germany,

bringing us two great revolutions,

Anti-Parliamentarian and Anti-Democratic.

Please stay, Clerici.

Is there any news for me?

Your personal record really is excellent.

- Then I'm hired? - Such decisions must be taken carefully.

Yes, I understand.

Civil servant, classical education, good career prospects

and a recommendation from Comrade Montanari.

Come to the Ministry one morning.

Come to my office with your bright, shining face

and make an official application.

The Minister's office!

Have you ever asked yourself why people want to collaborate with us?

Some do it out of fear.

Most of them do it for the money.

Very few do it because they believe in Fascism.

But not you.

I don't feel that you're driven by any of these reasons.

When can I expect a reply?

Soon,I hope.

If I put aside the idealist revolutionary...

I wonder what your intentions are.

I'm ready to go as soon as you decide.

Fine.

I'll introduce you to the Minister.

Clerici? Clerici!

- Yes, sir. - The Minister is expecting us.

Is this your first time meeting the Minister?

Yes.

When I explained your plan to him, the first thing he said was, "Excellent.

"He can get close to Professor Quadri, win his trust

"and try to find out who his contacts in Italy are."

Yes, yes, excellent.

And, most importantly, spontaneous.

- And voluntary. - Voluntary work.

Repression of Anti-Fascism.

You've got to try and understand women.

She'd decided to stay in Paris. So stay there, then.

- I'm sorry, I didn't get that. - It's nothing. It's Latin.

Five, four,

three, two, one.

The time is 1 pm.

Here.

Lovely.

Aren't you giving them to me, Marcello?

Today I absolutely need your flowers.

Give them here. For you.

You know what I was thinking? I must go to a fortune teller.

I want to know everything about you.

What are you doing there?

Darling!

Careful!

We're engaged. We're not doing anything wrong.

Look what my uncle brought me from America.

What is it?

Mummy's written a guest list. Want to see it?

No, I trust her.

Know what Don Lattanzi said?

If you want to get married, you have to go to confession and take communion.

He can't marry us otherwise.

- I don't believe in it. - Who does?

90 per cent of the people who go to church today don't believe.

The priests don't either.

All right, if you want me to, I'll go to confession.

I love you.

If you want to...

- If I want to... - Yes, right here.

On the floor, on the carpet. Do you want to?

We should think about the priest.

He may not grant me absolution.

They always grant everyone absolution.

After all, there's not very long to go now.

Have you thought about our honeymoon?

Of course.

But I can't tell you anything yet.

It's a surprise.

- A surprise? - A surprise?

Oh, yes, I adore surprises.

Giulia, go in there.

- Marcello, someone's got it in for us... - Come and eat!

- An anonymous letter? - An anonymous letter?

People are terrible.

- Worse than stabbing us in the back. - But what's in the letter?

It came this morning, postmarked Rome.

Let me see what they've written.

Read it out loud and then we'll burn it.

There are such nasty things in it.

"Madam, in allowing your daughter to marry Mr Clerici,

"you're committing more than an error, you're committing a crime.

"Mr Clerici's father has been in an asylum for years

"with a brain disease brought on by syphilis.

"As you know, this disease is hereditary.

"There's still time to stop the marriage.

"A friend."

I'm happy to have a check-up.

- No, of course not. - I don't mind at all.

In Germany, premarital medical tests are obligatory.

My dear, you're not a man, you're an angel.

Thank you.

Doctors can confirm that the origin of my father's mental illness isn't venereal.

By the way, my little girl has had mumps,

scarlet fever and German measles.

- They're all very moral illnesses. - Yes, they are!

Who are you? Why are you following me?

Pure coincidence.

I wasn't following you.

Evidently we're both going to the same place.

I'd like to ask you something. Would your name be Clerici?

Yes, I'm Mr Clerici. And who are you?

I'm Special Agent Manganiello. The Colonel sent me.

Get in.

- Thanks. - Trees!

What a mess. The house looks like a dung heap.

Yes, it's a pity.

Trees!

Hurry up, Manganiello, or we won't catch them.

I can't go any faster than this. The road is slippery.

- They're only half an hour ahead. - Don't talk so much. Hurry up!

God, it's slippery.

I know and I don't care. We've got to save her.

I understand you.

But if we break our necks, where will that get us, eh?

The Colonel said that I have to tell you...

Later. Wait here.

Mother. Cover yourself, please.

I don't want to see you half-naked.

I've got a moralist for a son.

You know what, I was just dreaming.

You came in through that door, you sat on my bed

and you kissed me.

Aren't you going to get dressed?

What's the time?

It's late. Aren't we going to visit Daddy?

Why doesn't he die?

We'd save all that money we pay the hospital, and I've got so little.

- Sell the car. - No, I'm not selling it.

If I do, it means getting rid of Trees, and I don't want to.

I feel so lonely in this house. I want to see him whenever I like.

Please don't talk to me about your lovers.

My lovers? There's only one.

And he's much more classy than your silly fiancée.