The Bull Il Toro

 ((Italian -- Comedy-drama -- Color))

By DAVID ROONEY

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A Cecchi Gori Group release (in Italy) of a Penta Film/Mario and Vittorio Cecchi Gori presentation of a Penta Film/Officina Cinematografica production. Produced by Mario and Vittorio Cecchi Gori, Luciano Luna. Executive producer, Rita Cecchi Gori. Directed by Carlo Mazzacurati. Screenplay, Umberto Contarello, Mazzacurati, Stefano Rulli, Sandro Petraglia.
 
Franco ... Diego Abatantuono
Loris ... Roberto Citran
Tantini ... Marco Messeri
Danilo ... Marco Paolini
Nocchi ... Paolo Veronica
Tiziano ... Roberto Zamengo
Antonio ... Ugo Conti
Colombani ... Alberto Lattuada
 

The story of two Italians doggedly trying to turn a profit on a stolen champion breeding bull in the new Central Europe isn't exactly high on the common experience agenda for most folks. But in the hands of director Carlo Mazzacurati, a resourceful scripting team and a winning duo of contrasting but complementary actors, the characters' dilemmas are invested with enough gentle humor, pathos and unexpected immediacy to make "The Bull" a strong contender to horn in on arthouse markets.

Burly co-op stud-farm worker Franco (Diego Abatantuono) loses his job due to staff cutbacks. When his employers refuse to cough up his settlement money, he breaks into their offices at night to confiscate legal proof of what he's owed. But while he's foraging, the farm's prize bull, Corinto, sidles up, and the animal itself seemingly initiates the idea of the theft.

Having coaxed the massive beast off the premises, he goes looking for help from his good-heartedly meek chum Loris (Roberto Citran). Franco's plan is to transport the valuable bull to Hungary, where it's less readily identifiable, and hence more easily salable.

Having established its singular central quest, the film then switches gears, taking on an appealing, indolent rhythm as the protagonists' problem-strewn journey gets under way. Traveling sequences are given a lilting gait by Ivano Fossati's lush, richly melodic tunes.

Abatantuono is considerably more contained than usual, and Citran backs him up faultlessly.

In his customarily uncluttered style, director Mazzacurati tinkles away at the emotional keyboard with no sign of manipulation.

Alessandro Pesci's agreeably loose camerawork makes a handsome palette of the vast landscapes. Mirco Garrone's editing strings the journey's many legs together at a breezy, fluid pace.

Camera (Cinecitta color), Alessandro Pesci; editor, Mirco Garrone; music, Ivano Fossati; art direction, Leonardo Scarpa; costume design, Lina Nerli Taviani; sound (Dolby), Franco Borni; assistant director, Marina Zangirolami. Reviewed at Venice Film Festival (competing), Sept. 3, 1994. Running time: 104 min.
 

With: Boris Dvornik, Mirta Zetevic, Zlato Crnkovic, Zoltan Gera, Zoltan Benkoczy, Janos Bata, Peter Kertesz.