A Pure Formality

1994 1h 51m IT

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 407

MysteryThrillerCrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Famous writer Onoff is now a recluse. The Inspector is suspicious when Onoff is brought into the station one night, disoriented and suffering a kind of amnesia. In an isolated, rural police station, the Inspector tries to establish the events surrounding a killing, to reach a startling resolution.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Gérard Depardieu
Onoff
Roman Polanski
Inspector
Sergio Rubini
Andre
Nicola Di Pinto
Captain
Tano Cimarosa
Servant
Paolo Lombardi
Marshall
Maria Rosa Spagnolo
Paula
Alberto Sironi

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Writers: Giuseppe Tornatore, Giuseppe Tornatore
Languages: French
Countries: Italy, France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

32 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Italy, France.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, shot by Blasco Giurato. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ennio Morricone. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Giuseppe Tornatore shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Gérard Depardieu and Roman Polanski and Sergio Rubini carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0110917 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Giuseppe Tornatore directs. Blasco Giurato behind the camera. Ennio Morricone scores. Giuseppe Tornatore cuts. Produced in Italy, France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

132 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 2 countries: Italy, France.
3Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, shot by Blasco Giurato. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Ennio Morricone. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Giuseppe Tornatore shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Gérard Depardieu and Roman Polanski and Sergio Rubini carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0110917 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.