Totò the Hero

Thomas, whose tumultuous life has been marked by significant events, ironically becomes a victim of his own actions, unable (unwilling?) to recognize his own vulnerability or cope with the bad cards life keeps on dealing him. Where this movie truly excels at, aside from crafting a well-told story that effortlessly propels the viewer into Toto's distraught perspective, is how I felt the director poured everything into it and truly believed in the story he was telling. Quite a moving film.

Estreava ha´30 anos em Cannes. Ressentiment is a hell of a drug. Nem dá para dizer que os atos do protagonista são um eterno retorno do recalcado porque ele não parece represar nada dos sentimentos mais mesquinhos que o aflige, nem os desejos incestuosos pela irmão, mesmo tendo se imposto um tabu alí. Essas reminiscências não parecem fazê-lo elaborar suas neuroses, só a potencializam e o tornam cada vez mais ressentido, nesse caso talvez ele tenha encontrado a melhor solução mesmo.

i've tried to watch this movie so many times and i just can't

Wonderful tale of youth and old age that uses eccentric plot devices to keep things light and amusing while it delves into the sorrow and isolation of the main character. Much like Mr. Nobody it's something that is heavily stylized and emotional and either clicks or it doesn't, thankfully it does for me.

Top badass moment? Alice (Thomas's sister) trashing the Virgin Mary in the church, after their father isn't found quickly enough after an air crash. I'm not condoning such behaviour, but busting up a religious icon in a church is pretty badass. 1 cat and 0 decapitations. But poor cat; it's all squashed at the side of the road! :-(