Movies by Marco Bellocchio

Marco Bellocchio: A Provocateur Unafraid to Challenge Societal Norms For over five decades, Italian director Marco Bellocchio has been a cinematic provocateur, unafraid to tackle complex, controversial subjects that challenge societal norms. With a distinct visual style and unflinching approach, Bellocchio has carved out a unique space for himself in the pantheon of European art-house cinema. Bellocchio burst onto the scene in 1965 with his debut feature, "Fists in the Pocket," a deeply unsettling family drama that subverted the idyllic image of the Italian household. This pattern of probing the underbelly of Italian society would become a hallmark of Bellocchio's work, as evidenced in films like "Good Morning, Night," which delved into the psyche of a left-wing terrorist, and the more recent "The Traitor," a sprawling true-crime saga that offered a complex portrait of a Mafia informant. Bellocchio's ability to present morally ambiguous characters and situations, without passing judgment, has earned him a reputation as a master of moral ambiguity. Beyond his provocative subject matter, Bellocchio is also known for his distinctive visual style, which often features jarring edits, unconventional framing, and a brooding, contemplative atmosphere. This aesthetic sensibility has only grown more refined over the years, as evidenced in his recent works like the two-part "Esterno Notte" and the upcoming "Kidnapped," which promise to further cement Bellocchio's status as one of the most essential voices in contemporary European cinema.