Zeno’s Conscience
Set between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Zeno Cosini, a wealthy Trieste merchant, neurotic and smoker, is marked by a conflictual relationship with his father and a chronic sense of inadequacy that drives him to seek help from psychoanalyst Dr. S.
Insights
Plot Summary
The film follows Zeno, a wealthy Italian businessman who decides to quit smoking after his doctor advises him to. Zeno keeps a diary detailing his struggles with addiction, his numerous failed attempts to quit, and his often-comical rationalizations for continuing to smoke. Through his diary entries, Zeno reflects on his life, relationships, and the absurdities he encounters.
Critical Reception
Zeno's Conscience received a mixed to positive reception, praised for its sharp wit and insightful exploration of addiction and human frailty. Critics often highlighted the performances of its lead actors, though some found the narrative's pacing uneven at times.
What Reviewers Say
- Appreciated for its satirical take on a common human struggle.
- Lauded for its comedic timing and character-driven narrative.
- Some noted a lack of consistent narrative drive throughout.
Google audience: Audience reception information is not readily available.
Fun Fact
The film is based on Italo Svevo's 1923 novel of the same name, which is considered a landmark of modernist literature.
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