IL BESTIONE
Italy, 1974, 100 minutes, Colour.
Giancarlo Giannini, Michel Constantin.
Directed by Sergio Corbucci.
Il Bestione is the name given to the huge transports, semi-trailers. This is an Italian trucking comedy which is given strength by the presence and performance of Giancarlo Giannini. The film was made early in his career before he became an established star for his many Lena Wertmuller films. He brings the same intensity and skills to this comedy drama.
The film can be compared interestingly with the trucking dramas from other countries, most especially those from the United States which range from Smoky and the Bandit to Truck Stop Women . There are overtones of comedy as well of sexual farce. The comradeship of the truckies, the love of the road are all quite evident here. Direction is by Sergio Corbucci, a maker of generally routine action films with popular Italian stars like Terence Hill and Bud Spencer.
1. The appeal of a trucking comedy-drama? For Italian audiences? World-wide audiences? The increased interest in road films and trucking films in the late seventies?
2. The film as a Giannini vehicle? his presence, style, size? Manner of speaking? his singing the title song? his being a symbol of the Italian male - strong, opinionated, his way with women, his way of dealing with situations? The Italian little man?
3. The Italian background for the film, Italy's place in Europe, the links by transport? Poland, Germany? Colour photography of locations? The sense of movement throughout Europe?
4. he focus of the title, its reference to trucks - and by extension their drivers? The mystique of the truck, its power, movement, function, skill in driving, care by the driver for the truck? A symbol of 20th century man-machine relationship?
5. Themes of the road - the road in the 20th century, distance, direction, movement, wandering, a way of life springing up around the road, the truck stops, the restaurants, stations, the people in these places? Relationships of drivers to these people, disruptive of basic units for example the family? How was this presented in the film -
scenes of driving, fellowship, the visit to the restaurant, the long collage of eating?
6. The personalities of the truckies - the examination for health and all that it meant, success or failure, driving skills, partnerships, the cafes, the code of the road, building up relationships? The clashes, Nino and his fight with the Dutch drivers? Truck drivers like sailors with ports of call, girls in the ports? Hard work, serious? The importance of the rejection of the old driver, the lack of medical benefits, the unions and their disregard, his suicide?
Union movements and scabs? The bonding together at the end to save Sandro and Nino?
7. Sandro and his personality, his calling the tune, attitudes, language, jokes? Taciturn? His breaking from his wife, love for his children - presents etc.? His relationship with the women - the woman at the restaurant. Magda in Poland? His code and his keeping it? Age, experience, friends? his attitude towards Nino, pressing him, leaving
him behind in Germany, reaction to his going with Magda, their fight?
8. Bonds of partnership? The fights against the Dutch truckies? The New Year party and Nino spending it with Sandro? The visit to the family? The deals, the sharing in the work with the truck, the end and impending disaster? An ordinary man, strengths and weaknesses, faults, failings, sympathetic?
9. The introduction to Nino? Giancarlo Giannini and his presence and style, his swagger, his introduction to the examination, his mistakes? Walk, skill in driving, talking, eating? The sexual encounter with the German girl? The long sequence of his loneliness in Poland - following Sandro, the restaurant sequence, the encounter with Magda? The fight with Sandro in Poland? The relationship with Amalia – at the christening, at the New Year party and his fight with her? His seeking out Leila? His changing her attitudes - and the letter from her? his hopes with the truck. his deals? The gangster connections and the near disaster? An Italian male type? How sympathetic? The old man and his having to give up his career, his wife, pottering around, the union visit, the suicide? Sandro and Nino and their generosity towards his wife?
10. The gallery of other truck drivers, their friends, the New Year's Eve party, the christening, the scab attack and the breaking through this with the truck drivers at the end?
11. The portrait of women - their relationships with men, used, allowing themselves to be used? The macho theme and male toughness?
12. Truck driving as a way of life? As background for entertainment, comedy, melodrama? A reflection on 20th century attitudes to life?
