Marcello Mastroianni is Meursault in Luchino Visconti's extremely cold adaption of the Albert Camus existential classic. Visconti takes the book and lays it out on the screen almost verbatim, with Meursault narrating much of it so we know in very short time that he's a man without any mission or ambition in life. For that, he's brought to a tragic end? Mastroianni is perfect in his role, his blank faced recitation of Camus' dialog is infuriating. His apathy is palpable. His favorite response to virtually any question seems to be "what does it matter?" A vivid and always compelling tale of how an already undone man's last violent act leads to his final foray into nothingness. Expertly photographed by Giuseppe Rotunno and brilliantly edited by Ruggero Mastroianni. The shocking, sparsely used music by Piero Piccioni brings a real sense of foreboding. The excellent supporting cast includes Georges Géret as Meursault's trouble- making friend, Bruno Cremer and Georges Wilson. Anna Karina is Marie, the only person who has genuine feelings for Meursault, though she, like everyone else is rebuffed. Shot on location in Algeria.
Review of The Stranger
