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Il bidone

The Swindle | Die Schwindler
Berlinale Classics 2020
Restoration frame, courtesy of Cineteca di Bologna
A trio of con-men from Rome, headed by aging leader Augusto, swindle the poorest of the poor out of their savings. Dressed up as clergymen, they sell worthless trinkets, allegedly made of valuable gold, to unsuspecting farmers. Or they pretend to be civil servants and sell subsidised housing certificates to the homeless. At a New Year’s Eve party thrown by a hustler who has made it big, Augusto realises that he has made a mess of his life. He decides to at least do something good for his own daughter, who dreams of attending university, and who has no idea how wretched her father’s life is … Shot almost entirely on location, Il bidone is considered Federico Fellini’s last neo-realistic film. The festival is screening the world premiere of the digitally restored version in honour of the director, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday on January 20, 2020. The Film Foundation was founded by Martin Scorsese in 1990, and is one of the leading institutions world-wide for the preservation and restoration of motion pictures. By working in partnership with archives and studios, the foundation has helped to make more than 850 films over the last 30 years accessible to the public.
by Federico Fellini
with Broderick Crawford, Giulietta Masina, Richard Basehart, Franco Fabrizi, Sue Ellen Blake, Irene Cefaro, Alberto De Amicis, Lorella De Luca, Giacomo Gabrielli, Riccardo Garrone Italy / France 1955 Italian 112’ Black/White Rating R6

With

  • Broderick Crawford
  • Giulietta Masina
  • Richard Basehart
  • Franco Fabrizi
  • Sue Ellen Blake
  • Irene Cefaro
  • Alberto De Amicis
  • Lorella De Luca
  • Giacomo Gabrielli
  • Riccardo Garrone

Crew

Director Federico Fellini
Screenplay Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli
Cinematography Otello Martelli
Editing Mario Serandrei, Giuseppe Vari
Music Nino Rota
Sound Giovanni Rossi
Production Design Dario Cecchi
Costumes Dario Cecchi
Producer Mario Derecchi

Produced by

Titanus/Société Générale de Cinématographie

Additional information

DCP: Cineteca di Bologna, restored by the Cineteca di Bologna and The Film Foundation at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, in collaboration with Titanus. Funding provided by the George Lucas Family Foundation.