The Savage State
L'Etat Sauvage is based on the novel by Georges Conchon which won the highly esteemed Prix de Goncourt. The story chronicles the mindless racism of both the departing French colonial overlords and the emergent black Africans in a newly emerging African state. Laurence (Marie-Christine Barrault) suffers the outrage of her white acquaintances, including her former lover Gravenoir (Claude Brasseur) and her ex-husband Avit (Jacques Dutronc), for her affair with Patrice Doumbe (Doura Mane), an official in the new government. He in turn is ridiculed by his fellow cabinet ministers for stepping out with a white woman. The vilification escalates to such a point that Patrice is brutally murdered, and Laurence barely escapes the country alive, with the help of her ex-husband Avit.
Insights
Plot Summary
In 1970s Italy, a young woman named Maria moves to a remote village to work as a teacher, hoping for a fresh start after a personal tragedy. However, she soon discovers that the village is under the oppressive influence of a charismatic, yet sinister, local leader. As she tries to uncover the dark secrets plaguing the community, she finds herself caught in a web of fear, manipulation, and escalating violence.
Critical Reception
The Savage State (also known as "The Last Days of Mussolini" or "Mussolini: The Last Days") is a lesser-known Italian political thriller that garnered mixed reviews. It is often noted for its grim atmosphere and attempts to explore the psychological impact of political extremism, though some critics found its narrative disjointed and its horror elements unevenly applied. It remains a curious artifact of Italian cinema during a period of social and political upheaval.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its atmospheric tension and unsettling portrayal of a community under duress.
- Criticized for a somewhat convoluted plot and occasionally heavy-handed symbolism.
- Senta Berger's performance is often highlighted as a strong point in the film.
Google audience: Audience reception data for "The Savage State" on Google is limited, making it difficult to summarize specific likes or dislikes.
Fun Fact
Despite its title in some markets, the film is not a direct biopic of Mussolini, but rather uses the tense political climate of post-war Italy as a backdrop for its fictionalized thriller plot.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources