Slap the Monster on Page One


Political films can be challenge to dissect.  Political films from another country, with nearly five decades in-between, even more so.  But Slap the Monster on Page One (1972), despite being steeped in the social chaos of Italy’s “years of lead,” has become in many ways more relevant than it was at the time of release, mixing murder, conspiracy and press bias that not only reports on elections but proudly influences them.

Gian Maria Volonté is cast as the ultimate anti-hero, Bizanti, editor of Il Giornale whose conservative readership the nation counts upon for fair and balanced coverage…or in simpler terms:  Fake News.  With several parties up at arms about the next election, Bizanti uses every opportunity to throw support behind his silent political partner (played with slimy zeal by John Steiner).  Even the unconnected rape and murder of a young student is played up for voter appeal, with a convenient culprit on display to satisfy the call for blood.  So when one reporter uncovers the dirty truth about the deep state even the vaunted “freedom of press” is useless when the press is already corrupt.

 

In post-election America, Slap the Monster on Page One probably hits a little too close to home.  “We must be protagonists, not observers,” Bizanti schools his young reporter, not even bothering to disguise the fact that Il Giornale merely prints propaganda that serves the ruling party’s best interest. His contempt extends even to his own wife who he, in one painful scene, abusively insults for being as stupid and naïve as his readers.  Director Marco Bellocchio strings together an eerily prescient prediction of the Fox News culture and the futile efforts to combat it.  The final image is as nihilistic as they come.  And a tough one to swallow on America’s morning after.

 

Radiance drops this one on a 3000-copy limited edition Blu ray with a 4K restoration supervised by Bellocchio, an archival interview with the same plus critic and author Mario Sesti, video appreciation by Alex Cox and liner notes.

 

 

 

 

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