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A Compelling Instance Great Cinematic Storytelling.


"Film will only become an art when its materials are as inexpensive as pencil and paper."-J Cocteau
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Mario Monicelli's The Organizer (1963) is an excellent dramatic
production.

It is a very engaging, and compelling period piece set in the late 19th
Century textile worker's strike in Turin, Italy. The storyline is very
believable, if not totally historically accurate.

The acting by the whole cast was somewhat inspired, very sincere, and
believable. Marcello Mastroianni gives an exceptionally strong
performance in a role that is quite different than the several others I've
seen him portray, that of a somewhat mild mannered, reflective, teacher
cum labor organizer, who doesn't seem to be quite sure of himself on
some level. This is certainly a departure from the glib, debonair, self
assured, upper crust character that I've become accustomed to in the
other films that I've seen him in. Yet,for me, his role in this film
confirmed for me the breadth of his acting ability, and furthers my
belief that he is one of the great actors of all time. Mastroianni is
the dramatic lynchpin in this film, and carries the storyline to its
conclusion.

The cinematography in this film is really great, giving the viewer a
variety of interesting "looks", as a result of diverse camera
positions, and camera angles.

The period sets and period costumes are very good. The huge indoor
factory setting is amazing, and made me wonder where they got all that
antique machinery.

The dramatic tone of the film was just right, in my opinion, somewhat
walking the tightrope between the various emotional tensions inherent
in the storyline at various points.

This film is just an example of good cinematic storytelling, allowing
the viewer to see the emerging storyline from a diversity of character
perspectives. The storyline has a few interesting twists, and the
rather downbeat ending was rather unexpected, but left me pleasantly
speculating about where the story went from there.

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