Mondo Cane

Various themes pop up along the way through this impressive, hard-hitting documentary feature, notably the cruel treatment inflicted on animals, including the human species. Vehicle is impressive on many counts: first, the material found on a round-the-world hunt; second, the juxtaposition of the various elements, sequences, and themes in order to provoke the viewer; third,

Various themes pop up along the way through this impressive, hard-hitting documentary feature, notably the cruel treatment inflicted on animals, including the human species. Vehicle is impressive on many counts: first, the material found on a round-the-world hunt; second, the juxtaposition of the various elements, sequences, and themes in order to provoke the viewer; third, the adult commentary which, in its original Italian version [spoken by Stefano Sibaldi], manages glibness, irony and satire without overdoing it.

Various themes pop up along the way through this impressive, hard-hitting documentary feature, notably the cruel treatment inflicted on animals, including the human species. Vehicle is impressive on many counts: first, the material found on a round-the-world hunt; second, the juxtaposition of the various elements, sequences, and themes in order to provoke the viewer; third, the adult commentary which, in its original Italian version [spoken by Stefano Sibaldi], manages glibness, irony and satire without overdoing it.

While nearly all bits are patently real, there are two sequences (one concerning the slow death of all life on a Bikini atoll; the other depicting children polishing human skulls and bones in a Roman catacomb) which, despite assurances to the contrary, smack of staging.

Yet the total effect is grimly stimulating from the visual standpoint, depressing in the conclusions drawn. Whether one sides with his views or not, Gualtiero Jacopetti deserves credit for a shattering view of the world.

Jump to Comments

Mondo Cane

Italy

  • Production: Cineriz. Director Gualtiero Jacopetti, Paolo Cavara, Franco Prosperi; Screenplay Gualtiero Jacopetti; Camera Antonio Climati, Benito Frattari; Editor Gualtiero Jacopetti; Music Riz Ortolani, Nino Oliviero
  • Crew: (Color) Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1962. Running time: 105 MIN.

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9mhnd9jp%2BgpaVfp7K3tcSwqmiln6OxsHnCmqWeZWFnfXGAkWlobG9f

 Share!