Dov'e La Liberta? (1954)

A barber (Toto) who slashed the throat of his wife's lover in a crime of passion is released from prison after serving 22 years. However, once outside in the real world, he discovers the world is corrupt, deceitful and ready to exploit you and the comforting routine of prison life begins to look very good to him. Although the film is credited to Roberto Rossellini (OPEN CITY), he never finished the film and Mario Monicelli was brought in to complete it. Rossellini can never be accused of possessing a light touch and this comedy does nothing to dispel that notion. What could have been a wicked black comedy ambles along with all the wit of a blunt neorealist melodrama. Outside of I SOLITI IGNOTI and HAWKS AND SPARRROWS, I'm not overly familiar with Toto's work but, at least here, he doesn't strike me as a particularly inventive comedian. With Vera Molnar, Leopoldo Trieste and Franca Faldini.