I Basilischi (The Lizards) (The Basilisks) (1963)

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Three young men in a small town in Southern Italy lead directionless lives wandering around town, telling lies and boasting about their alleged romantic conquests. When one goes off to Rome with his Aunt, he returns with fabulous stories about the nightlife, the women and the modern advancements of… More Three young men in a small town in Southern Italy lead directionless lives wandering around town, telling lies and boasting about their alleged romantic conquests. When one goes off to Rome with his Aunt, he returns with fabulous stories about the nightlife, the women and the modern advancements of the big city. He vows he will return, but soon is back to his familiar pattern of hanging out with his idle friends in pursuit of a good life they may never see. A woman kills herself when she feels her life is completely negated by her daughter-in-law. Another woman verbally assault her husband in the town square in front of disbelieving locals before she leaves him there. A man finally gets up the nerve to visit a hooker, only to be embarrassed when he meets an acquaintance on the way to her room. The film was written and directed by Lina Wertmuller, who vividly captures the mood of the sleepy town where the three young men seemed destined to spend their uneventful lives. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi