Complexes (1965) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Three comic stories expose insecurity, vanity, social embarrassment, and fear of arbitrary public judgment.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Anxious Ultramarket Outing

Quirino arrives nervously and imagines a proposal to Gabriella. The employees' cheerful outing becomes uneasy through jokes about accidents and bad luck.

Key Events

• Quirino Arrives Nervously — Quirino arrives anxiously for the planned Ultramarket outing. Characters: Quirino Raganelli Location: Ultramarket meeting place
• A Rose for Gabriella — Quirino considers buying Gabriella a rose. Characters: Quirino Raganelli, Gabriella (I) Location: Ultramarket meeting place
• Marriage Proposal Rehearsal — Quirino rehearses how he might ask Gabriella to marry him. Characters: Quirino Raganelli, Gabriella (I) Location: Ultramarket meeting place
• Cheerful Trip Begins — The employees gather and begin their cheerful outing. Characters: Quirino Raganelli Location: Ultramarket outing
• Jokes About Bad Luck — Ominous jokes about accidents and bad luck disturb the cheerful trip. Characters: Quirino Raganelli Location: Ultramarket outing

The Unsettled Love Triangle

At the luncheon, Gabriella and Alvaro expose the limits of their relationship. Quirino is asked to persuade Alvaro while remaining trapped between them.

Key Events

• Gabriella's Troubled Relationship — Quirino becomes involved in Gabriella and Alvaro's troubled relationship. Characters: Quirino Raganelli, Gabriella (I), Alvaro Morandini (I) Location: Luncheon venue
• Alvaro Refuses To Leave — Alvaro admits Gabriella wants more but refuses to leave his wife. Characters: Gabriella (I), Alvaro Morandini (I), Quirino Raganelli Location: Luncheon venue
• Quirino Asked To Persuade — Gabriella hopes Quirino can persuade Alvaro to take her seriously. Characters: Quirino Raganelli, Gabriella (I), Alvaro Morandini (I) Location: Luncheon venue
• Chairman's Speech — The chairman delivers a speech during the outing's luncheon. Characters: Quirino Raganelli Location: Luncheon venue
• Letter And Sick Call — Gabriella and Alvaro discuss writing a letter and calling in sick. Characters: Quirino Raganelli, Gabriella (I), Alvaro Morandini (I) Location: Luncheon venue

Beozi's Hidden Humiliation

A letter and payment reveal Erminia's secret film appearance and unlimited image rights. Gildo searches for answers at a bizarre film party.

Key Events

• Gildo Receives The Letter — A letter and payment reveal Erminia's past film appearance. Characters: Prof. Gildo Beozi, Erminia, la moglie di Beozi (II) Location: Beozi household
• Image Rights Discovered — Gildo learns Erminia signed away unlimited rights to her image. Characters: Prof. Gildo Beozi, Erminia, la moglie di Beozi (II) Location: Beozi household
• Search At The Film Party — Gildo enters a bizarre party and searches for someone to confront. Characters: Prof. Gildo Beozi Location: Film-related party
• Flower Costumes Surround Gildo — The party is filled with people dressed as flowers. Characters: Prof. Gildo Beozi Location: Film-related party

Public Scandal And Correction

The police raid transforms Gildo's private embarrassment into a public spectacle. Newspapers sensationalize the story before a clarification separates him from a similarly named engineer.

Key Events

• Police Raid The Party — A police raid turns Gildo's private humiliation into a public spectacle. Characters: Prof. Gildo Beozi Location: Film-related party
• Newspapers Sensationalize Scandal — Newspapers present the affair as Professor Beozi's double life. Characters: Prof. Gildo Beozi Location: Newspaper coverage
• Identity Clarification Issued — A clarification states that Gildo is unrelated to an engineer with a similar name. Characters: Prof. Gildo Beozi Location: Newspaper coverage

The Arbitrary Television Test

Applicants endure auditions, camera tests, and a written examination. Despite praise for six contestants, officials privately consider eliminating one, leaving the selection unresolved.

Key Events

• Television Auditions Begin — Applicants compete for television reader positions through auditions. Location: Television audition room
• Camera Tests And Examination — Contestants face camera tests and an examination on England and the Common Market. Location: Television audition room
• Nervous Candidate Struggles — A nervous candidate struggles under pressure before the test begins. Location: Television audition room
• Six Contestants Praised — Six remaining contestants are praised for diction, speed, reflexes, and photogenic qualities. Location: Television audition room
• Officials Discuss Elimination — Officials privately discuss eliminating one contestant. Location: Television audition room
• Selection Remains Unresolved — The film ends with selection governed by ambition, arbitrary judgment, and fear of failure. Location: Television audition room

Story Breakdown

• Quirino's Nervous Arrival — Quirino approaches the Ultramarket outing while worrying about appearance and romantic failure.
  • Anxious Preparation — Quirino arrives nervously and worries about looking foolish.
  • Imagined Proposal — He considers a rose and rehearses asking Gabriella to marry him.
• Uneasy Group Outing — The employees' cheerful trip is undermined by ominous jokes and social unease.
  • Employees Gather — The group assembles for the Ultramarket outing.
  • Bad Luck Jokes — References to accidents and bad luck darken the outing.
• The Broken Relationship — Gabriella and Alvaro reveal a relationship blocked by Alvaro's refusal to leave his wife.
  • Alvaro's Refusal — Alvaro admits Gabriella wants more but rejects leaving his wife.
  • Quirino's Mediation — Gabriella asks Quirino to persuade Alvaro to take her seriously.
• Beozi's Hidden Discovery — Gildo learns that Erminia once appeared in a film and had signed away image rights.
  • Letter And Payment — The letter and payment disclose the old film appearance.
  • Unlimited Image Rights — Gildo discovers that Erminia granted unlimited rights to her image.
• Scandal Becomes Public — Gildo's private humiliation expands through a bizarre party, a police raid, and sensational newspapers.
  • Flower Costume Party — Gildo searches for someone to confront among people dressed as flowers.
  • Newspaper Clarification — A clarification separates Gildo from an engineer with a similar name.
• Television Selection Anxiety — Applicants face tests in a competitive process shaped by performance pressure and arbitrary judgment.
  • Audition And Examination — Contestants undergo auditions, camera tests, and a written examination.
  • Private Elimination — Officials discuss eliminating one contestant despite praising the remaining six.

Directed by

Dino Risi, Franco Rossi, Luigi Filippo D'Amico

Key Cast

• Nino Manfredi — Quirino Raganelli
• Ugo Tognazzi — Prof. Gildo Beozi
• Alberto Sordi — Guglielmo Bertone
• Umberto D'Orsi — Ernesto (I)
• Ilaria Occhini — Gabriella (I)