The Ups and Downs of Shack Life: 'Ugly, Dirty and Bad'

Ettore Scola takes us on a tragicomic journey to the outskirts of Rome with "Ugly, Dirty and Bad," where money is dirtier than the mud.

When Family Thievery Is a Team Sport, Unity Might Just Be a Happy Accident 

Alright, strap in because Ettore Scola's "Ugly, Dirty and Bad" is an ode to dysfunctional family life that makes your own quirky clan seem almost normal. Nestled in a Roman shantytown, we meet Giacinto Mazzatella, a one-eyed patriarch with a heart... well, not exactly made of gold. After bagging a tidy sum from an insurance payout for his lost eye, Giacinto becomes target number one for a family that truly embodies the phrase "blood is thicker than water... but money is thicker than both."

Things get really spicy when Giacinto decides to bring home a new flame, a prostitute whose heart is as big as her appetite, and announces they'll all bunk together in the overflowing marital bed. His wife's response? A family plot that could've been cut from "The Sopranos" for excessive brutality: poison him at a party with a dish of lethally laced eggplant pasta.

Despite a textbook murder attempt, our man Giacinto not only survives but, in a revenge twist worthy of a Greek tragedy, decides to set fire to the shack with everyone inside. Spoiler: no one dies, and the big plot twist? The family, now more united and populous than ever, continues to live together in the same, now even more crowded, shack.

And just when you think it's all over, bam—another plot twist hits: the unexpected pregnancy of one of the granddaughters, a promise of new Mazzatella generations ready to continue the cycle of love, hate, and naturally, borderline illegal survival strategies. "Ugly, Dirty and Bad" isn't just a movie, it's a survival guide on how to keep your sanity (mostly) intact in a family that would make anyone else run for the hills.

When Realism Meets the Ridiculous

"Ugly, Dirty and Bad" is the kind of movie that makes you laugh in moments when you're not sure you should. Ettore Scola, the wizard behind the camera, pulls you into a whirlwind of real life peppered with a hefty dose of surrealism. It’s like watching a nature documentary where, instead of lions and gazelles, you've got an Italian family clawing over a piece of cheese—both metaphorical and literal.

Scola's direction is an explosive mix of social critique and dark comedy. He's got the eye of a surgeon and the timing of a comedian, dissecting society with precision while making you roll with laughter. Nino Manfredi, as the eruptive patriarch Giacinto, is a force of nature who dominates every scene with his imposing presence and rough-but-irresistible charisma.

The cinematography is another star of the show: it captures the essence of misery without ever falling into pity, portraying the shantytown not just as a tin shack prison but as a theater of humanity. The costumes are strikingly authentic, exuding the life of those who have little yet do everything to appear as if they have everything under control.

The soundtrack, understated yet effective, plays like a lullaby during a bar brawl: it's there, subtle, yet perfectly in tune with the organized chaos that reigns supreme.

After a deep dive into the lives of these memorably imperfect characters, "Ugly, Dirty and Bad" earns a solid 9 out of 10. Not just because Scola delivers a raw, genuine film, but because he makes us love these characters, despite (or perhaps because of) all their flaws. A film that not only entertains but also makes you think—and maybe, just maybe, teaches you something about human resilience, forgiveness, and how, at the end of the day, even the most disastrous family can find a way to stick together.

Why I Recommend It

I recommend this movie because it turns human flaws into a comedic art form. Greed, dishonesty, and betrayal are served on a silver platter garnished with a side of bitter laughs. It’s a lesson on how poverty can push people to extremes, but told with such verve that you can't help but appreciate the cruel irony.

Why I Might Not

I wouldn't recommend it if you’re looking for untarnished heroes and pristine morality. Here, the characters are dirty both inside and out, and the story drags you through the mud with them. If you prefer cinema that leaves you feeling clean and serene, perhaps look elsewhere.