Failed Anarchists and Anti-Heroes in Lina Wertmüller’s Amore e anarchia

Abstract

Lina Wertmüller is keenly interested in exploring power dynamics. She has taken on fascism, Nazism, the mafia, chauvinism, labor unions, big business, and so on. Her critique of power during historic fascism is readily apparent in the complete title of the film dealt with in this chapter: Film d’amore e d’anarchia, ovvero stamattina alle 10 in via dei Fiori nella nota casa di tolleranza (Film of Love and Anarchy, or This Morning at 10 a.m. in Via dei Fiori in a Well-known House of Prostitution). This title (typically wordy for Wertmüller) combines love, anarchy, and the suppressed account—at least within the narrative of the film—of the failed attempted assassination of Benito Mussolini. The words from the title, “or This Morning at 10 AM in Via dei Fiori in a Well-known House of Prostitution” begin the “official” report of main protagonist and would-be anarchist Tunin’s death at the end of the film, omitting his name and altering the description of his death. Of course, the viewer knows the truth: after his arrest as a result of declaring “I wanted to kill Mussolini,” Tunin stands up to Spatoletti, the chief of police and hyper-masculine icon of fascist Italy/Mussolini by exclaiming “long live anarchy!” and refusing to offer any information regarding his involvement with the anarchists. As a result, he is brutally assassinated for his newfound loyalty.¹ From the onset, Wertmüller warns that the personal (love) informs the political (anarchy).²

I would like to stress my horror at these attempted assassinations. These acts are both evil and stupid as they harm the cause that they are meant to serve… But those assassins are also saints and heroes… When their extreme gesture is forgotten, we shall celebrate the ideal which inspired them.

—Errico Malatesta, as cited in Amore e Anarchia