It's hard to put my thoughts into words about this film. I write about movies a lot, but this one stumps me in a way because it is such a punch in the gut. There is a beautiful, romantic, tragic sadness about it, a melancholia falling somewhere in tone between the trenchant, pessimistic sexual/political works of Mauro Bolognini and Francesco Maselli, the sharp mix of realism and dark satire of Elio Petri and Dino Risi, and the magical realism of Fellini. Romy Schneider is perfect in the role of a larger-than-life woman - a living legend - a crusading widow of a slain labor leader with nothing left to lose. Ugo Tognazzi is the bullheaded owner of the factory where she works. There is a general strike not just at his factory but at all the affiliated factories in a consortium of bosses/businessmen who care only about the bottom line and nothing about the welfare or safety of their workers. The two characters, activist Schneider and boss (and former worker) Tognazzi begin the story hating each other, gradually form a grudging respect for each other and finally have a meeting of the minds that forms an alliance that will break the labor dispute impasse. But the other factory bosses are unhappy with Tognazzi's reforms, and soon an ominous shadow of doom forms around Tognazzi, isolating him and pointing to possible tragic climax. Ennio Morricone supplies one of his most beautiful scores. The composer was obviously moved by the film and performances, and it shows up in his simpatico, subtle underlining of the romantic, melancholic mood. Elegiac and memorable.
