Elio Petri spent his career making smart and witty films that engaged with the social and political issues of his day and featured a satirical edge. Property Is No Longer a Theft (1973) is one of Petri's most aggressive commentaries on capitalism, privilege, and power in 1970s Italy, told through a comic revenge tale. When Total (Flavio Bucci), a bank clerk who is allergic to paper money, is refused a loan because he has no collateral, he quits his job and declares war on the Butcher (Ugo Tognazzi)—the bank's star customer—by robbing his personal items: a knife, his mistress's jewelry, and his mistress (Daria Nicolodi) herself. "I'm a Mandrakian Marxist," he proclaims. "I only steal what I need." The Butcher uses the thefts to cover insurance fraud but then realizes that his empire of illegal businesses could be exposed if the police catch the robber. There is no attempt at realism here: the Butcher's shop has the sleek glamour of a jewelry store, an anti-theft exhibition features devices out of a James Bond movie, Total looks through police mug shots to recruit a seasoned thief for his latest plan, and in between sequences the characters address the camera for brief, often comic commentaries on socioeconomics. Remastered from a new 4K restoration for this Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, extras include new interviews with Bucci, producer Claudio Mancini, and makeup artist Pierantonio Mecacci. Likely to appeal to fans of offbeat and brainy foreign cinema, this is recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Property Is No Longer a Theft
Arrow, 126 min., in Italian w/English subtitles, not rated, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $39.99 Volume 32, Issue 4
Property Is No Longer a Theft
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