Movie spotlight
Il diavolo in convento
March 1945: an air raid destroys a fishing village. The homeless are hosted by Brother Angelo in the convent of San Fruttuoso in Camogli: years pass but the houses are not rebuilt and when the prior dies, the convent is sold to the rich engineer Milone, determined to transform it into a holiday complex. To prevent the homeless from ending up on the streets, Brother Angelo devises every possible expedient, even a fake miracle while waiting for San Fruttuoso to perform a real one.
Insights
Plot Summary
In 16th-century Italy, a convent is thrown into disarray when a statue of the Virgin Mary is replaced with one of the Devil. Father Cipolla, a monk with a mischievous streak, is tasked with uncovering the truth behind this sacrilegious act. His investigation leads him through a series of comedic escapades and mistaken identities within the convent walls.
Critical Reception
This early Italian comedy, co-directed by a young Mario Monicelli, is often seen as a lighthearted romp with a slapstick sensibility. While not a critical darling of its time, it offered accessible humor and popular actors for audiences seeking simple entertainment.
What Reviewers Say
A whimsical and often silly comedy set in a convent.
Features popular Italian actors delivering broad humor.
Relies on physical comedy and mistaken identities for its laughs.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce, but general sentiment points to it being an enjoyable, albeit unsophisticated, comedic diversion typical of Italian cinema from the era.
Fun Fact
This film marked an early directorial effort for Mario Monicelli, who would later become one of Italy's most acclaimed comedy directors with films like 'I soliti ignoti' (Big Deal on Madonna Street).
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