Paradigma (1985)

Voelz, studente di teologia in una cittadina del centro Europa, è fermamente convinto della esistenza del Bene e della Grazia. Dopo averla conosciuta da vicino, si innamora della moglie di ... See full summary »

Director:

Krzysztof Zanussi

Writer:

Krzysztof Zanussi

Stars:

Benjamin Völz, Vittorio Gassman, Marie-Christine Barrault

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Benjamin Völz	...	Hubert
Vittorio Gassman	...	Gottfried
Marie-Christine Barrault	...	Sylvie
Erika Wackernagel	...	Mutter
Hans Marquardt	...	Alexander (as Hans-Werner Marquardt)
Hark Bohm	...	Notar
Jan Biczycki	...	Bettler
Eugeniusz Priwieziencew	...	Sekretär (as Eugeniusz Priwiezienziew)
Martin Umbach	...	Rezeptionist
Vladimir Press	...	Gottfrieds Arzt
Maria Klippert-Wullinger	...	Krankenschwester
Annemarie Neuhaus	...	Frau
Mariusz Pujszo	...	Arbeiter (as Mariosz Pujszo)
Hervé Bellon	...	Arzt
Raf Vallone	...	Laboratory director

Storyline

Voelz, studente di teologia in una cittadina del centro Europa, è fermamente convinto della esistenza del Bene e della Grazia. Dopo averla conosciuta da vicino, si innamora della moglie di un infido fabbricante di armi. Ma la sua ingenuità nulla potrà contro la diabolica intelligenza del marito della donna. Alla fine si convincerà che nulla si può fare per combattere il Male.

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Plot Keywords:

morality | industry | extramarital affair | working class | widow | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

France West Germany Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

August 1985 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Il potere del male

Company Credits

Production Co:

Maki Films,Pierson Productions,TF1 Films Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 105 min (TV premiere)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

User Reviews

The power of evil

The French title is "Le Pouvoir Du Mal" (= power of evil)

PLot: after stopping Sylvie from committing suicide ,Hubert,a theology student ,,becomes her lover ;pregnant by him,she finally comes to term with it ;but the lack of money urges the young man to ask Gottfried ,a wealthy arms manufacturer;he's actually his lover's husband and he has a heart condition ...

One of "paradigm" meanings applies to the movie:"A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline."

Although the love triangle and the husband's heart condition are often found in the thriller genre,we deal here with philosophical drama:Hubert studies theology ,abortion is an abomination to his eyes ,and ,like Rousseau,he thinks that man is naturally good and it's the society which corrupts him ;in direct contrast with that,we have Gottfried who works for destruction and (legal?) murder :he once helped Hubert to pay his studies,but this time his pleas fall on dead ears .To this aging potentate,evil is present in every human being ,and he has free will .In the face of such cynicism,the young guy feels helpless .Expiation is the only way to solve his dilemma,but this ending has something pointless,even Bunuelesque.

Set in the twenties with seasoned actors(Gassmann,Barrault and even Vallone in a small part) ,this Franco-Italian production is downright depressing :can evil lead you to liberty?