A revival more than 40 years after its initial release brought this sneaky black comedy deserving new life. What begins as a family farce steeped in Italian stereotypes – Italian clown Alberto Sordi plays a buttoned-up factory supervisor in Milan who brings his wife and daughters for a visit to the earthy, connected Sicily of his childhood – subtly transforms into an early Mob morality play, as Sordi’s family man is manipulated into a criminal plot by former “friends.” This is funny straight to the end, but also as disturbing in its depiction of self-deception as any episode of “The Sopranos.” From director Alberto Lattuada.
