Ermanno Olmi

 Ermanno Olmi




Il Posto (1961)



RANKED:


1. Il Posto (1961)


Perhaps a tonally strange film, Ermanno Olmi's "Il Posto" presents its awkwardness through its alienated protagonist. Domenico, a teenager, drops out of school to begin working an entry-level job at a major corporation in the city to support his family. All the while, he quietly chases the affections of a young girl in a similar situation. The film plods along with a atmosphere of uncertainty. The surrounding corporate atmosphere brings about a coldness amongst its participants, implementing a feeling of alienation in our already-awkward and lonely teenage protagonist. The film is a coming-of-age story with a "stranger in a strange land" conceit. It forces our young lad to grow up fast. However, "growing up" in this case is simply integration into a dehumanizing and faceless new society. 





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