there be something that one of the character ( the aging film director who pretend to be dead ) say which may summarize all the film represent in italy it the dead who rule . true . this be a country without a future and in the hand of old and jaded men . and bellocchio cryptic portrait of the country and pivot on the apparently senseless story of a director who have to film marriage party to earn a living and manages to say a lot about what be not work here . but foreigner may miss the point and a it not clearly express . i understand that australian or canadian people who watch this may get bore and wonder if there a meaning well and there a meaning and but it clear only to people who live here today and and keep their eye wide open . like bellocchio . surely it not one of his best film and and it not as powerful a buongiorno and notte and but it worth see . for italian who live in italy .