Il posto (1961)

A very young college graduate attempts to obtain a position with a large corporation.

Director:

Ermanno Olmi

Writers:

Ettore Lombardo, Ermanno Olmi

Stars:

Loredana Detto, Sandro Panseri, Tullio Kezich

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Loredana Detto	...	Antonietta Masetti
Sandro Panseri	...	Domenico Cantoni

Storyline

Domenico and Antonietta are two suburban Italian youths who meet while seeking "a job for life" from a big city corporation. After a bizarre screening process made up of written exams, physical agility exercises, and interview questions such as "Do you drink to forget your troubles?" (Domenico and Antonietta are no older than 17 or 18), they land jobs in the "Technical Division" and "Typing Services" respectively. From there, Domenico works as an underutilized errand boy until a clerk position is vacated by the death of an older employee. Domenico finally takes his place in a room of 12 other clerks with a manager overseeing them from a desk at the head of the room. The film ends as Domenico ponders his fate, from behind his tiny desk at the back of the small windowless room, listening to the sound of the mimeograph machine as it runs off carbon copies next to the manager's desk.

---

Plot Keywords:

desk | clerk | job | exercise | errand boy | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

13 September 1961 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Job

Filming Locations:

Meda, Milan, Lombardia, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,581 (USA) (20 December 2002)

Gross:

$6,137 (USA) (27 December 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

24 Horses, Titanus

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Ermanno Olmi went on to marry the female lead, Loredana Detto. She never made another film.

User Reviews

One of my personal favourites

I encountered this film almost accidentally one evening, and was not expecting a lot from it. Certainly, I had no way of knowing in advance what I was in for. With relative indifference I sat down, pressed play, and ended up experiencing one of the greatest movie experiences of my life. I sat in my chair, taking in the film, and was breathless. It never took a wrong step.

As a film-maker myself, I kept a critical watch, waiting for Olmi or one of his actors to misstep. However,I can happily say that 'Il Posto' is a flawless picture. It is deeply moving, visually beautiful, and has a resonating power unlike almost any other film.

I sincerely wish that more people could see and appreciate this picture, and that it was more widely available, because I consider it one of the greatest accomplishments in cinema history. Olmi's beautiful, universal film is worthy of standing alongside the best of Bergman, Kubrick, or Bunuel. Please seek it out!