All Screwed Up
Year: 1974
Runtime: 105 mins
Language: Italian
Director: Lina Wertmüller
The film follows a collective of southern‑Italian laborers who have settled together in Milan in 1974. It examines every facet of their existence—romantic relationships, domestic routines, work dynamics, sexual encounters and daily struggles—showing that while money isn’t everything, it becomes the sole driving force in their lives.
All Screwed Up (1974) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview
Get a spoiler-free look at All Screwed Up (1974) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the sweltering summer of 1974, a wave of southern‑Italian laborers arrives in the bustling, industrial heart of Milan, chasing the promise of work and a fresh start. The city’s soot‑gray factories and cramped apartments become a backdrop for a tightly knit community that must navigate the clash between rural traditions and the relentless pace of modern urban life. Money, while never the sole measure of worth, looms as the primary force shaping every choice, casting a quiet urgency over ordinary moments.
Among the newcomers, Gino and Carletto are two hopeful young men whose friendship anchors their struggle to find steady employment and a place to belong. They quickly cross paths with Adelina, a shy newcomer from Sicily whose modesty and yearning for stability clash with the city’s seductive allure. Isotta, a relative taken in by circumstance, and Biki, a resourceful neighbor, extend a tentative network of support, offering both shelter and a glimpse of the informal economies that sustain many of the residents. The group is later joined by Sante and his pregnant partner Mariuccia, whose arrival deepens the household’s dynamics and amplifies the collective’s concerns about the future.
The film’s tone is a gritty, intimate portrait of working‑class life, blending moments of fragile tenderness with the harsh realities of a city that offers little mercy. By focusing on daily routines—shared meals, cramped living quarters, whispered dreams of ownership—the story invites viewers to feel the weight of each character’s aspirations and anxieties. The atmosphere hums with a restless energy, suggesting that while the characters are bound by circumstance, the bonds they form may prove as vital as any paycheck, leaving the audience eager to see how they will navigate the delicate balance between survival and hope.
Last Updated: August 20, 2025 at 17:48
Explore Movie Threads
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Movies about bleak urban despair like All Screwed Up
Stories of hopeful arrivals in the city crushed by systemic poverty.If you liked the gritty portrayal of immigrant struggle in All Screwed Up, explore more movies about urban poverty and social decay. These films capture the feeling of hope turning to despair as characters are worn down by the city's unforgiving nature.
Narrative Summary
Narratives in this thread typically follow a downward trajectory. Characters arrive with optimism, but the cumulative weight of economic hardship, moral compromise, and strained relationships leads to a bleak ending where they are trapped in the cycle they sought to escape.
Why These Movies?
Movies are grouped here for their shared portrayal of the city as an oppressive force, their steady pacing that builds a comprehensive picture of decline, and their heavy emotional weight centered on themes of existential crisis and social decay.
Movies about a group's moral collapse like in All Screwed Up
Films where a tight-knit group's unity fractures under shared hardship.Fans of All Screwed Up who were captivated by the dynamics of the collective can find similar movies here. These stories explore how a group of friends or comrades fractures under pressure, often leading to a tragic or bleak outcome for everyone involved.
Narrative Summary
The narrative pattern revolves around a central group. Initially united by a common goal or circumstance, the group faces escalating challenges that expose personal weaknesses and conflicting morals. The storyline documents the unraveling of their unity, often culminating in betrayal, isolation, or shared demise.
Why These Movies?
These films are connected by their ensemble focus, the theme of friendship strained to breaking point, and a steady pacing that meticulously builds tension within the group dynamic, leading to an emotionally heavy and bleak conclusion.
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All Screwed Up Summary
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