Il vigile (Der Schutzmann)

One of the most remarkable works by Luigi Zampa, a *maître manqué* whose grand ambitions sometimes detracted from his films because he overworked them. *Il vigile* (The Traffic Policeman), however, feels tossed off, which works decisively in its favor. The core idea is simple and brilliant: A long-term unemployed simpleton (Alberto Sordi) finally lands a responsible yet naive job, believing he can now take revenge on all those who have annoyed him up to this point. What begins as this premise suddenly morphs into a reflection on the significance and reach of modern mass media (with Sylva Koscina belting out Adriano Celentano) only to take yet another sharp turn—a satire on the average Italian's behavior during election season. Featuring Vittorio De Sica as a vile mayor! (Olaf Möller)

Introduction by Christoph Huber on January 10, 2025.

Photo: Austrian Film Museum