DeGenerazione (1994)

DeGenerazione Poster

Very rare Italian horror anthology from 1994, starring amongst many others, Asia Argento. This Italian movie is an anthology based with no linking material, only that all of the stories have a horror/suspense/surreal theme. The stories are diverse, ranging from routine stories with twist-endings to social satire. The directing styles are equally as eclectic - compare the frenetic Peter Jackson-style opening segment, Our Guys Are Coming to the surrealistic, dreamlike qualities of Outlook.

Introduction
"DeGenerazione" is an Italian cinematic anthology movie released in 1994 and directed by numerous young filmmakers, including Marco Bellocchio, Marco Risi, Bernardo Bertolucci, Alex Infascelli, and Michele Soavi. The movie is a collection of 10 dark and intriguing short stories that deal with different social, mental, and moral issues of Italian contemporary society. The title "DeGenerazione" recommends the idea of degeneration or decay, representing the prevalent themes of disillusion and angst present in the stories.

Brief Stories and Themes
Each narrative in "DeGenerazione" uses a special point of view on a various aspect of life in Italy during the early 1990s, recording a duration of sharp financial recession, social unrest, and worry of the future. The filmmakers took motivation from a number of distinguished authors, such as Dino Buzzati, Italo Calvino, and Edgar Allan Poe. As the stories unfold, the audience is taken on a psychological journey through themes of love, worry, passion, aggravation, and desire.

1. "Una bella giornata" (A gorgeous day) - Directed by Stefano Rulli, this story follows a man who picks to fight for justice, despite the corrupt environment around him. As he deals with a number of obstacles, he finds minutes of happiness and appeal even in the darkest times.

2. "L'ultima ora" (The last hour) - Directed by Giuseppe Bertolucci, this story explores the worry of death and the mission for significance in life. A retired teacher ends up being obsessed with the concept of the "perfect death" and searches for a method to leave a significant legacy after he is gone.

3. "Jack" - Directed by Mark Risi, this story is a modern-day adjustment of the traditional tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, embeded in modern Italy. The protagonist handles his own duality and the struggle between his dark impulses and desire for redemption.

4. "Se ho perso" (If I lost) - Alejandro Agresti directs this tale of unrequited love and longing. As they embark on a lonely journey, 4 friends come face-to-face with the reality of their failed relationships and the repercussions of their actions.

5. "Il sogno della farfalla" (The dream of the butterfly) - Michele Soavi directs this surreal parable of power, abuse, and self-discovery. Set in a desolate and dystopian world, it tells the story of a man who discovers a covert power within himself and must select in between utilizing it for excellent or evil.

6. "L'urlo" (The scream) - Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, this story is a poignant reflection on the privacy and absence of human connection in modern-day society. Through the experiences of a young woman and a lonely male, the movie explores the profound emotional impact of city alienation.

7. "Data" (Date) - In this brief film, directed by Alex Infascelli, innovation's role in human relationships ends up being main. The characters utilize virtual reality to navigate a world of isolation and disconnection, demonstrating both the possibilities and the limitations of synthetic connection.

8. "Strovogliando" - Fioravante Centonis directs a reflective study of the human requirement for belief and the capacity for redemption. The lead character discovers himself in a mysterious scenario, where faith becomes necessary for survival.

9. "Una notte d'amore" (A night of love) - Alina Marazzi informs an enthusiastic love story through the eyes of a young couple who have a hard time to link in a world controlled by societal expectations and emotional barriers.

10. "La fine" (The end) - Marco Bellocchio brings the film to a close with an effective testimony to the human spirit's resilience and the possibility of personal improvement. A deeply disillusioned man experiences a profound shift in point of view when he experiences his apparently perfect double.

Conclusion
The unconventional and thought-provoking nature of "DeGenerazione" has made it a cult classic of Italian cinema. The movie explores numerous elements of human experience and catches the complexity of life in modern-day Italy, laying bare the struggles, worries, enthusiasms, and dreams that shape an individual's life. While not all the stories in "DeGenerazione" are groundbreaking or completely effective, the total impact of the movie remains considerable: it provides a raw, unfiltered glance into the human soul, capturing its beauty and darkness in equal step.

Top Cast

  • Alessandro Haber (small)
    Alessandro Haber
    Regista (segment "Arrivano i nostri")
  • Marco Manetti (small)
    Marco Manetti
    Primo Alieno (segment "Arrivano i nostri")
  • Andrea Prandstraller
    Secondo Alieno (segment "Arrivano i nostri")
  • Antonio Manetti (small)
    Antonio Manetti
    Terzo Alieno (segment "Arrivano i nostri")
  • Alberto Rossi (small)
    Alberto Rossi
    Nicola (segment "Consegna a domicilio")
  • Gloria Sirabella (small)
    Gloria Sirabella
    Francesca (segment "Consegna a domicilio")
  • Giampaolo Genovesi
    Uomo delle Consegne (segment "Consegna a domicilio")
  • Patrizia Sacchi (small)
    Patrizia Sacchi
    Antiquario (segment "Consegna a domicilio")
  • Asia Argento (small)
    Asia Argento
    Alessia (segment "Consegna a domicilio")
  • Stefano Abbati (small)
    Stefano Abbati
    Boris (segment "Just Another Vampire Story")
  • Cesare Bocci (small)
    Cesare Bocci
    Dan (segment "Just Another Vampire Story")