Icannibali (1970) (Blu-ray Review)
Directed By: Eric Valette
Starring: Albert Dupontel, Alice Taglioni, Stéphane Debac
Rated: UR/Region A/2:35/1080p/Number of Discs 1
Available from Raro Video USA
In Icannibali (or the American name, The Year of the Cannibals) a modern reworking of the drama of Antigone, in the format of a radical political allegory. Set in the city of Milan, where a fascist government leaves the bodies of captured rebels on the streets, it is about Antigone, who wants to bury her dead brother. We got Italian with English subtitles for this artsy film!
There seems to be a whole lot of social commentary and symbolism going down here with this one. I’m not sure it will be something that everyone will be able to translate and really understand, but I do hold a great appreciation for a film like this. It is both morbid, eerie, and kind of cool to see dead bodies just laying around everywhere during the movie. There is also time for a love story to be tossed in the mix. When you combine all of those things you just let the tragedy unfold and that is what you end up with topped off with an Italian twist.
I think a movie like this also needs a ton of credit for the way it is shot. This movie is a products of early 70s and as a result seems to have a lot of “hippie” influence going into it. This is probably one of the more truest definition of a cult film I have seen in recent memory and it will surely have that cult following of old and new fans who see this release. It wasn’t my personal cup of tea, but I know a lot of folks who do like this type of film. The transfer is a nice looking, but not mind blowing affair. The film seems to have a darker/blue-ish tone to some scenes that I’m sure fit what the director wanted. Especially in city scenes.
– Interview with the director
– Original theatrical trailer
– New and improved English subtitle translation
– Fully illustrated booklet
