A classic story of marital betrayal in a comedy exposing the hypocrisy of politics
A comedy of errors, full of joyful gags and sensuality
What could be a more fitting topic for a comedy than marital unfaithfulness? It is a common theme in French vaudeville comedy, and Fico d’India is a worthy addition to the tradition. However, in the case in hand a betrayal hasn’t actually taken place, but the main character’s paranoia leads him to ask the inevitable question: What will people think? Especially considering that the man in question is someone who must defend his public reputation so as not to lose votes. What good is an electoral programme if spicy rumours in town undermine the mayor’s honour. The film casts an amusing eye over misunderstandings and hypocrisy, with gags that often ruthlessly hit the mark. Renato Pozzetto is the ideal actor for this kind of easy-going pettiness and Gloria Guida is perfect as the wife who makes him fear the worst.
It’s a hard life being a politician, especially in a small provincial town when a womaniser attempts to seduce the mayor’s wife. When the furious husband catches him and threatens him with a gun, the poor man suffers a heart attack. To help him in his recovery, he must have total rest. Therefore, the doctor orders him not to be moved from the mayor’s house. The first citizen, whose main preoccupation is to stop rumours from spreading about his wife’s (presumed) unfaithfulness, has to come up with a plan to avoid embarrassment at all cost.
A classic story of marital betrayal in a comedy exposing the hypocrisy of politics
A comedy of errors, full of joyful gags and sensuality
What could be a more fitting topic for a comedy than marital unfaithfulness? It is a common theme in French vaudeville comedy, and Fico d’India is a worthy addition to the tradition. However, in the case in hand a betrayal hasn’t actually taken place, but the main character’s paranoia leads him to ask the inevitable question: What will people think? Especially considering that the man in question is someone who must defend his public reputation so as not to lose votes. What good is an electoral programme if spicy rumours in town undermine the mayor’s honour. The film casts an amusing eye over misunderstandings and hypocrisy, with gags that often ruthlessly hit the mark. Renato Pozzetto is the ideal actor for this kind of easy-going pettiness and Gloria Guida is perfect as the wife who makes him fear the worst.
It’s a hard life being a politician, especially in a small provincial town when a womaniser attempts to seduce the mayor’s wife. When the furious husband catches him and threatens him with a gun, the poor man suffers a heart attack. To help him in his recovery, he must have total rest. Therefore, the doctor orders him not to be moved from the mayor’s house. The first citizen, whose main preoccupation is to stop rumours from spreading about his wife’s (presumed) unfaithfulness, has to come up with a plan to avoid embarrassment at all cost.
