Il Sorpasso

Dino Risi's lively 1962 road movie is a largely forgotten Italian classic that is worthy of rediscovery. A charming Vittorio Gassman stars as Bruno, a 40-year-old convertible-driving free spirit, and Jean-Louis Trintignant is Roberto, a reserved law student coaxed away from his studies for a wild ride. Set over a couple of days during the summer vacation period (when Rome is all but shut down, but travelers are everywhere), this buddy movie is both a terrific character piece centered around an odd-couple friendship and a delightful portrait of Italian social life in the bistros, nightclubs, and beaches outside of the city, one that encompasses rich and poor alike. Bruno is a prankster, womanizer, gourmand, con man, and speed demon, while Roberto is tightly wound and unsettled as he finds himself being dragged into unfamiliar situations by his older, worldly companion. This episodic film is all about the rich pageant of Italians at rest and at play, with a core built upon the evolving relationship between two men with nothing in common who form a bond thanks to Bruno's affection for the nervous Roberto and Roberto's growth in confidence under Bruno's tutelage. Mastered from a beautiful digital restoration this Blu-ray/DVD Combo set features extras including new and archival interviews, a 2006 documentary on director Risi, a booklet, and more. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)