CONTROL (IL GIORNO PRIMA)

Italy, 1987, 106 minutes, Colour.
Burt Lancaster, Ingrid Thulin, Kate Nelligan, Ben Gazzara, Kate Reid, Erland Josephson.
Directed by Giuliano Montaldo.

Control is an Italian production, directed by Giuliano Montaldo, a veteran of many Italian movies, and made in collaboration with RAI, Italian television. The cast is international, led by Burt Lancaster and Ingrid Thulin as well as having Kate Nelligan and Ben Gazzara from England and the United States, Erland Josephson from Sweden and Andrea Ferreol from Italy.

The film is anti-nuclear war - but raises questions about nuclear shelters and human behaviour. One might say it is anti-nuclear shelters - with a grim view of the weakness of human nature, the need for survival and selfishness. A multi-national gets the advice of a nuclear scientist and sets up an elaborate nuclear shelter. Volunteers go in for twenty days - and a simulated attack brings on a crisis which some handle selfless-and others violently and selfishly until it is all revealed as a test. There are emotional reactions at the end - with Burt Lancaster as the scientist in charge of the experiment, looking questionably into the audience's eyes.

The film is a variation on the Ship of Fools theme and many of the expected interactions take place. There is also some cinema philosophising. However, the premise is interesting in view of the nuclear films of the later 20th century and of the reality of the threat of nuclear destruction.

1. An interesting telemovie? Fable about nuclear warfare? Its attitude towards human nature - optimism, pessimism?

2. An Italian production, international cast? The elaborate set for the nuclear shelter? The technology? Authentic? The musical score?

3. The title, the experiment, human beings in controlled situations? Losing their own control?

4. The prologue with nuclear war, dangers and fears, the ads for shelters? The background of shelters in the US in the 50s? As a topic of discussion in the 60S? The threat of nuclear war, especially the Cold War and European cities being destroyed? The setting in Germany, in Hamburg?

5. The press conference, Dr Munro and his explanations? The nature of the experiment? Mrs Havemeyer as the patron? The money, the building? The response of the experiment, the danger of death, her clashes with Dr Munro, defying him? His stances, the nature of the experiment, valuing the results of the experiment?

6. The volunteers, the reaction of the press? The curiosity - and audiences sharing it?

7. The group going into the shelter, establishing themselves, introductions, finding their place? The prospect of three weeks together? Living quarters, washing (and the contamination shower)? Food supplies, oxygen, heating - and its going out of control? Television? The outside world? Personal interactions, love and hate, family, sex? The rules and breaking the rules? Range of motivations? Use of the money? Ordinary interactions? Handling crisis with the heat? The news of the nuclear threat? The man going out? The people at the door - and decisions having to be made, the prudent and realistic decision for survival, the generosity factor? The getting of the guns? Confrontations? the opening up of the door, the readiness, to shoot, the blanks? The humiliation? The anger and frustration, relief? The nature of the experiment and what it revealed?

8. The range of characters and characterizations: Mike, Ben Gazzara's nonchalance style, the observant American reporter, writing his story, interaction with the mother and son, volunteering, taking charge, the drink? His selfless stance? Estimating the chances of survival, leading those who wanted to let the people in?

9. The mother and child, anti-war, the use of the money, separated from her scientist husband? Love for her son, his being lost, found? Care for him, the beat? The clash of philosophy with Mike? The apologies? Wanting to leave? Her choice for survival? Change of mind with her son?

10. The Bloch family, the father and his pleasantness, fixing the radio, receiving the prejudice and attacks? His large wife and her friendliness, the cooking? The birthday cake and the celebration? The daughter, her dancing, the advance of the photographer land Swinson's wife attacking, her tears? The Jewish prejudice against them? The decisions - and the husband recalling the holocaust and wanting to be generous, the wife and the daughter opting for survival, changing their minds?

11. Swinson and his wife, the young wife, his skills, poise, helping in the management? His wife and her roving eye, the incident with the photographer? The husband's jealousy yet lenience towards the wife? Antagonism towards the photographer? His leading the group for survival, the guns? His panic? His wife and her self-centred view?

12. The photographer, taking the photos, observing, sullen? Seductive with the wife? Dropping her and looking at the young girl? Swinson's attack on him? His coming to help in the crisis? The taking of the guns, supporting Swinson for survival?

13. The engineer, in charge, managing, his skills? The fixing of the heating? His opting for survival? The local man, his skills as a magician, playing with the boy, his getting the key for the guns? Friendly? His decision to leave because of the nuclear threat to Hamburg? His return at the end? A doctor, helping, attracted towards Sheba, their talks, the selfless choice? Sheba, her glamour, wanting publicity, showering in the contamination showers, sexual exhibitionism, self confidence, doubt? Talking with the doctor? Becoming more human? Her fears, attempted suicide? The single woman, unobtrusive, wanting to meet friends? Her selfless choice? The elderly woman, her reasons for going, wanting to do something selfless, enjoying the company, the overbearing agent? Her strong stances about meeting her maker and letting the people in?

14. How well were the characters, their interactions, friendliness, the celebrations, the heat crisis, the tensions, the choices? The group as a cross section of human beings? Typical behaviour under crisis? Audiences identifying with them and their choices? The elderly woman and her slapping Dr Munro's face at the end?

15. A useful dramatisation of a contemporary problem and moral choices?