Cast magnificent in 'Vincere'

Director: Marco Bellocchio

Cast: Fillipo Timi, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Fabrizio Costella

Cert: 15

Mezzogiorno turns in a quite excellent performance as Ida Dalzer in the true story of Italian dictator Benito Mussololini’s (Timi) early years.

The story begins in 1914 when the young Musso was rabble-rousing as a communist and when he meets Ida who becomes his mistress, bears him a son and, since he is clearly going places, is locked away in an institution (he is already married, so it’s better she be swept into obscurity).

The story concentrates on Ida’s constant belief that all will eventually be well, that her unbounded devotion to her man – like that of the country itself – will be rewarded.

Mezzogiorno is magnificent, while Timi equals her performance in what is the difficult depiction of the scowling, strutting dictator.

Star Rating: 4/5