Basta guardarla (Ich brauche sie nur anzuschauen)

The heyday of Italy's popular *avanspettacolo* variety tradition—with its music, dance, and often risqué humor—was already in decline by 1970. But for the country girl Enrichetta (Maria Grazia Buccella), a new world opens up with the bizarre, glittering performance of Silver Boy (Carlo Giuffré). She joins his ragtag troupe and falls in love with him. Her gradual rise within the ensemble sparks jealousy, and after a heated argument, she defects to the even more eccentric rival, Farfallo.

Director Luciano Salce himself took on the role of Farfallo after Ugo Tognazzi declined. His dazzling performance, combined with a direction filled with cheap pop excesses and ironic touches, reflects an intimate familiarity with the world of *avanspettacolo*. This world receives its most cinematic tribute here, a treatment that turned the film into a comedy classic over the years. (Christoph Huber)

Photo: Austrian Film Museum