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

Onoff: If writers knew whose mouths would up spewing out their works, they'd cut off their hands.
Inspector: And it would be a pity.

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Connections

Featured in Un sogno fatto in Sicilia (2000)

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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

One Pure Cinema ....

One word that can sum up this movie is Fantastic!!! The thing about this movie is I wasn't lucky like a few other people over here to watch this movie without expecting anything. I almost knew everything I needed to know about this movie even before I bought the DVD. The movie was a pure cinema in every sense of the word. I expect the movie to contain a decent story, good actors, a little bit of suspense, a little comedy (not mandatory) and a classic ending. This one provided me with all of these things and more. The movie is really a manifestation of some one's mind. The acting is uniformly brilliant. I know Polanski is a decent actor and I loved him in The Tenant, but here he is just pure Master Class.Gérard Depardieu is a legend in France and in International Cinema and he shows in this movie why is that. In a short summary the movie involves a person being questioned for staying out in the woods without any identification. When it turns out to be the Great Writer Onoff who doesn't quite remember how he came to that place. How the Inspector Da Vinci(Polanski) gets out the answer forms the rest of the story. Enjoy the movie except for one scene of crude nudity from Gérard Depardieu. That was scary!!!! I rate this movie 10/10 (inspite of Gérard Depardieu's scary back!!!)