A Pure Formality (1994)

Onoff is a famous writer who hasn't published any new books for quite some time and has become a recluse. When he is picked up by the police one stormy night, without any identification, ... See full summary »

Director:

Giuseppe Tornatore

Writers:

Giuseppe Tornatore (story), Giuseppe Tornatore (screenplay)

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Roman Polanski, Sergio Rubini

5 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Gérard Depardieu	...	Onoff
Roman Polanski	...	Inspector
Sergio Rubini	...	Andre, the Young Policeman
Nicola Di Pinto	...	Captain
Tano Cimarosa	...	Servant
Paolo Lombardi	...	Marshall
Maria Rosa Spagnolo	...	Paula
Alberto Sironi
Giovanni Morricone
Mahdi Kraiem
Massimo Vanni
Sebastiano Filocamo

Storyline

Onoff is a famous writer who hasn't published any new books for quite some time and has become a recluse. When he is picked up by the police one stormy night, without any identification, out of breath and running madly, without clear memory of recent events, the Inspector is suspicious. Through interrogatory dialectic, the head of this lonely, isolated, broken-down police station tries to establish what has happened, by delving into the mind of his writer-hero, and clearing up a mysterious killing.

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Plot Keywords:

police | writer | minimal cast | single set production | fall from height | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief shocking violence and momentary language

Details

Official Sites:

Sony

Country:

Italy France

Language:

French

Release Date:

26 May 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Pure Formality

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Gross USA:

$202,458

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica, DD Productions, Film Par Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[repeated line]
Onoff: I'll take your advice and keep quiet.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Casper/Mad Love/Braveheart/Johnny Mnemonic/A Pure Formality (1995)

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Soundtracks

Ricordare
Music by Andrea Morricone and Ennio Morricone
Lyrics by Pascal Quignard and Giuseppe Tornatore
Performed by Gérard Depardieu

User Reviews

Una pura fantastica!

Take a deep breath, you cinefillic voyeur! Take a deep breath, sit down comfortably on your couch and think twice before you press play on your remote controller... Think twice since you are about to witness something that has never been seen before... Actually it has been seen later, but in much more unoriginal and uninteresting way. What you are about to witness in this movie is something between ON and OFF; you'll hear one of the greatest movie dialog ever spoken, you'll see thestunning performance of unbelievably excellent Polanski and surprisingly good Depardieu; you'll learn how the direction of the movie is supposed to be handled; you'll realize that you just THOUGHT that you know what is your life turning into... And finally, you'll find out the meaning of word MASTERPIECE.