Verdict
Summary
A compelling and sad drama that feels very real until an inconclusive and frustrating ending upsets the careful balance of what came before, Corruption is an interesting and timeless story about the battle of the soul. It’s a well-drawn character study of archetypes, and at only 83 minutes, the movie really digs deep and you feel for Stefano as he’s systematically stripped of his dignity and his convictions, although the movie ends before we can see him making any further decisions. Filmmaker Mauro Bolognini’s film deserves to be seen in these cynical times. It still speaks a powerful truth about faith and … corruption.
Plot:
A young man wants to join the seminary, but encounters a huge obstacle in his father, who wants him to succeed him in a publishing empire.
Review:
Bright and innocent, Stefano (Jacques Perrin) graduates boarding school with high marks at 17 and comes home to Italy to visit his father (Alain Cuny), a man of the world who has earned respect by building a publishing empire throughout Italy and Europe. Stefano’s mother has been sequestered in a mental asylum and his only real connection to the world is his dad, who embraces him and wants him ready to begin working with him, with the intention of passing along the business one day to him. But Stefano has big news: He doesn’t want to succeed his father, no, he wants to join the priesthood. When he tells his father this, his dad is insulted and disappointed. So, devising a way to “corrupt” his own son, he plans a yachting holiday for a week, promising that the two of them will discuss Stefano’s future, but instead of being alone, his father has his mistress, a beautiful young woman (played by Rosanna Schiaffino) join them, wanting her to flaunt her near nakedness and willingness to sleep with Stefano the entire time. Being a young man, Stefano caves to his lust, and yet his father refuses to release him or let him go, continuing to humiliate and humble him in a way that is abusive, forcing the young man to change his mind and leave the idea of joining the priesthood behind, just like his innocence …
A compelling and sad drama that feels very real until an inconclusive and frustrating ending upsets the careful balance of what came before, Corruption is an interesting and timeless story about the battle of the soul. It’s a well-drawn character study of archetypes, and at only 83 minutes, the movie really digs deep and you feel for Stefano as he’s systematically stripped of his dignity and his convictions, although the movie ends before we can see him making any further decisions. Filmmaker Mauro Bolognini’s film deserves to be seen in these cynical times. It still speaks a powerful truth about faith and … corruption.
Radiance Films brings Corruption to Blu-ray in a vivid 2K restoration, and the treatment of the film is up to the very high standards of Radiance. With interviews, a booklet with an essay, new artwork, and more, this edition is limited to 3000 units.
