(Differences between the international cut of the movie, and the version distributed to italian cinemas are described in the last paragraph of the review.)
Is wow more than one word? Because when reflecting on this movie it sure lingers for a while... Lets start again. If you are a heterosexual male, watch this alone the first time. Lets start again. The first 40 minutes of the film are a visual, sensual, guttural, powerfantasy on screen force majeure. Then you also slowly start noticing that the movie layers meaning in allegorical structures (when commercials are used as standins for the character that hasnt been introduced yet, or the sheep falls over in the first two minutes, or the political theme tune of the electoral campaign kicks in...) that decidedly seem hyper real. Then you'll start realizing, that this is "the best commercial shoot type production" you'll ever see in your life, because the women in it know its a persiflage, and knew where its hitting, and the main cast so far (again, we are still in the first 40 minutes) doesnt ruin the scenario, he focuses it. Then the main character (Lui? Lui, lui.) enters and the movie gets even better? Sure does. Then you have presence intercuts for a look of a sidecharacter, just to underline, that body language is a story telling device here as well (Oh it sure is... sorry my mind went back to the first 40 minutes...), then the movie becomes lyrical? But in a persiflage, that also kind of isnt? Its not so much that my mind was blown several times throughout the movie, its - that the powerfantasy became palpable. The draw in of that presentation is immense. And the absurdity gets sidelined even when its turned up to eleven, because you are still so mesmerized by the ride. And at the end of the movie you pick yourself up in pieces, and start to question who you are... And you might have learned a thing or two, about Lui lui, you hadn't picked up from the international press. Oh and "When Putin was here a few years ago..." Did I mention that its laugh out loud funny as well?
The international cut is the "better version", to it stripping out mostly political background and side character development. All the iconic scenes are in the international cut as well, basically uncut - so as a result the movie flows better, but misses many of the political allegories, that explain some of the setups you see playing out. So pacing and the main character (of the first 40 minutes, not Lui) arc benefit from the international cut, the message of the movie does not. Also the funniest scene of the movies got lost on the cutting room floor. In the telephone call scene with the producer type explaining to the audience the tiring fact, that everyone wants to be Mata Hari or Jeanne d'Arc - that gets underlined with snippets of various movie productions, one of which is "(Lady) Dianas (Republic of) Congo", but with eroticism (and minus the heart :) ), according to the voice over. If you can, source the originals as well, but watching the international version on your first watch will have more impact.
Is wow more than one word? Because when reflecting on this movie it sure lingers for a while... Lets start again. If you are a heterosexual male, watch this alone the first time. Lets start again. The first 40 minutes of the film are a visual, sensual, guttural, powerfantasy on screen force majeure. Then you also slowly start noticing that the movie layers meaning in allegorical structures (when commercials are used as standins for the character that hasnt been introduced yet, or the sheep falls over in the first two minutes, or the political theme tune of the electoral campaign kicks in...) that decidedly seem hyper real. Then you'll start realizing, that this is "the best commercial shoot type production" you'll ever see in your life, because the women in it know its a persiflage, and knew where its hitting, and the main cast so far (again, we are still in the first 40 minutes) doesnt ruin the scenario, he focuses it. Then the main character (Lui? Lui, lui.) enters and the movie gets even better? Sure does. Then you have presence intercuts for a look of a sidecharacter, just to underline, that body language is a story telling device here as well (Oh it sure is... sorry my mind went back to the first 40 minutes...), then the movie becomes lyrical? But in a persiflage, that also kind of isnt? Its not so much that my mind was blown several times throughout the movie, its - that the powerfantasy became palpable. The draw in of that presentation is immense. And the absurdity gets sidelined even when its turned up to eleven, because you are still so mesmerized by the ride. And at the end of the movie you pick yourself up in pieces, and start to question who you are... And you might have learned a thing or two, about Lui lui, you hadn't picked up from the international press. Oh and "When Putin was here a few years ago..." Did I mention that its laugh out loud funny as well?
The international cut is the "better version", to it stripping out mostly political background and side character development. All the iconic scenes are in the international cut as well, basically uncut - so as a result the movie flows better, but misses many of the political allegories, that explain some of the setups you see playing out. So pacing and the main character (of the first 40 minutes, not Lui) arc benefit from the international cut, the message of the movie does not. Also the funniest scene of the movies got lost on the cutting room floor. In the telephone call scene with the producer type explaining to the audience the tiring fact, that everyone wants to be Mata Hari or Jeanne d'Arc - that gets underlined with snippets of various movie productions, one of which is "(Lady) Dianas (Republic of) Congo", but with eroticism (and minus the heart :) ), according to the voice over. If you can, source the originals as well, but watching the international version on your first watch will have more impact.