There's a story that Lina Wertmuller tells about herself and Fellini: "He said something that I will never forget: 'If you are not a good storyteller, all the techniques in the world will never save you.' He told me that before I started shooting my first film, 'I basilischi'".
When I watched The Lizards (Basilisks), I could not tell who the narrator was and what was the story. There is a vague story but it is not strong or vivid. You have to consider that here she had the very best crew gathered, the best film music composer Ennio Morricone, the best editor Ruggero Mastroianni and the best cinematographer Gianni di Venanzio. Yet all their magic does not make this potentially great film come alive because the traditional story structure is weak or missing. She was warned but it didn't do any good.
