Palombella rossa

Palombella rossa

Directed by Nanni Moretti

Produced by Sacher Film, Palmyre Productions

198989 min7.2 / 10

A surreal, intellectually playful political allegory that uses memory loss and water polo as metaphors for the identity crisis of Italian communism and one man's fractured self.

Michele is an MP for the Italian Communist Party who loses his memory in a car crash, though hardly anyone around him seems to notice. During a crucial water polo match on the eve of election day, he gradually begins to remember his past life, revealing a man whose personal and political identity crisis mirrors that of Italian communism itself.

Questions people ask

  • Is Palombella rossa one of a kind? Yes. More singular than 87% of films.

  • Is Palombella rossa violent? Barely. Less violent than 76% of films.

  • Is Palombella rossa sad? Somewhat. More sad than 70% of films.

  • Does Palombella rossa end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 64% of films.

  • Is Palombella rossa scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 58% of films.

  • Is Palombella rossa easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

80/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

There is almost nothing else like this.

Rarity89

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise76

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love75

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like Palombella rossa, and what each one shares →

Like Palombella rossa

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Palombella rossa

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Palombella rossa, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Palombella rossa, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Palombella rossa, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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