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(the title means 'treacherous competition') (Italy) Directed by Ettore Scola.
Cast: Diego Abatantuono, Sergio Castellitto, Gérard Depardieu.
Plot: Set in Rome in 1938 when there were racial laws against the Jews in Italy. Called a "bitter comedy", this is the story of a rivalry between two merchants -- one Catholic (Abatantuono), one Jewish (Castellitto) -- that is amusing and ingenious. Their families live side-by-side and have similar compositions. Before the war the Catholic merchant is always trying to get the better of his neighbor. But both are shocked when something outside their small world hits -- the war and the laws against the Jews. Despite having everything in common, the two men are not afforded the same rights, their children cannot attend the same schools, and the Jewish merchant is not able to practice his own trade or open his own shop. A friendship develops in the wake of the injustices.
Gérard has a role as Abatantuono's brother.
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