The Big Night (La notte brava)

Directed by Mauro Bolognini

Drama
1959
95 mins
Movie
France, Italy

Scinttilone and Ruggeretto's escapades in Rome lead to a night of adventure and self-discovery, blurring lines between friendship and survival.

Based on the novel Ragazzi di vita by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Buy the book on Amazon.

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Mauro Bolognini brings grit, energy and a distinctly Italian sensuality to this portrait of young men drifting through Rome’s nocturnal underworld. The story can feel episodic, but its street-level atmosphere, handsome black-and-white photography and unsentimental view of desire give the film a vivid, restless quality that has aged well.