Before the Revolution

Before the Revolution

Year: 1964

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci

RomanceDrama

Set in Italy, where love is an art, Fabrizio is idealist influenced by Cesare and haunted by his friend Agostino’s drowning. His aunt Gina, older, begins an affair after the funeral and later sleeps with a stranger. Encounters with Cesare and landowner Puck, losing his estate, show visions of Italy’s future and suggest bleak prospects for them.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Before the Revolution yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Before the Revolution (1964)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Before the Revolution (1964). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1962

The film takes place in 1962, a period marked by political upheaval and social change in Italy. It was a time of economic growth, but also ideological conflicts, especially between communism, Catholicism, and traditional values, which are central themes in the movie.

Location

Parma, Milan

The movie is primarily set in Parma, a city in northern Italy known for its rich history, architecture, and cultural heritage. Milan also features as an important backdrop, representing urban life and social contrasts. Both locations reflect Italy's complex social landscape during the 1960s.

🇮🇹 Italian 🏰 Historic 🌿 Countryside

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:05

Main Characters – Before the Revolution (1964)

Meet the key characters of Before the Revolution (1964), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Gina

Gina is a complex woman caught between her past loves and turbulent emotions. She is somewhat enigmatic, displaying both affection and chaos in her interactions, hinting at underlying mental and emotional struggles. Her desire for love and stability is conflicted by her restless nature.

❤️ Love 🌪️ Turmoil 💃 Freedom

Fabrizio

Fabrizio is a young man grappling with his political beliefs and personal identity. He is idealistic but becomes increasingly disillusioned with ideological commitments, reflecting the existential crises faced by many in his generation. His internal conflicts drive much of the film's emotional tension.

🧭 Search 👫 Relationships 🤔 Identity

Agostino

Agostino is Fabrizio's passionate friend who embodies youthful rebellion and existential anguish. His tragic death symbolizes the darker consequences of ideological and personal turmoil, leaving Fabrizio to confront the complexities of trust and despair.

💀 Tragedy 💭 Despair 🗯️ Ideology

Cesare

Cesare is a teacher who influences Fabrizio's political awakening. He represents intellectual guidance and ideological debate, helping shape Fabrizio’s understanding of Italy's history and its social conflicts.

📚 Wisdom 🗣️ Education 💭 Reflection

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:05

Major Themes – Before the Revolution (1964)

Explore the central themes of Before the Revolution (1964), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Ideology

The film explores the clash between Marxist ideas and Catholic beliefs, showcasing characters caught between political activism and personal doubts. It questions the influence of ideology on individual identities and relationships during a turbulent era.

💔 Love and Disillusionment

Relationships are complicated by emotional conflicts, societal expectations, and personal ambitions. The romantic entanglements and betrayals highlight the characters' struggles to find genuine connection amidst social pressures and ideological divides.

🌅 Transition

The story captures Italy on the cusp of change, reflecting the shift from traditional values to modern ideals. Characters grapple with their pasts and futures, symbolizing Italy’s broader transition during the early 1960s.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:05

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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 political and personal disillusionment like Before the Revolution

Stories where youthful political and romantic ideals are shattered by harsh reality.For viewers who appreciated the disillusionment in Before the Revolution, this thread gathers movies with similar stories of crushed idealism. If you liked the theme of youthful passion giving way to the complexities of reality, you'll find resonant films here exploring the gap between aspiration and actuality.

disillusionedphilosophicalmelancholicintrospectiveturbulentpassionateexistential

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern in these films typically involves a protagonist entering a situation with strong, often naive, beliefs. Through encounters with mentors, lovers, or traumatic events, their worldview is challenged and ultimately fractures. The focus is on the psychological journey from certainty to doubt, and sometimes to cynical resignation.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared focus on the emotional and intellectual journey of disillusionment. They possess a melancholic tone, heavy emotional weight, and often feature complex characters grappling with the disparity between their ideals and the world's realities.

Dramas with melancholic and transgressive relationships like Before the Revolution

Slow-burn dramas where complex, illicit relationships create a melancholic atmosphere.This collection features movies with a similar mood to Before the Revolution, focusing on complex, often taboo relationships. If you were drawn to the film's melancholic exploration of a fraught affair and its emotional consequences, you'll find other stories that blend passion with philosophical depth and a bittersweet feel.

melancholicpassionateclaustrophobicintrospectiveturbulentforbidden loveexistential

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often weave a transgressive romantic or familial relationship into a broader tapestry of personal crisis or social commentary. The relationship serves as a catalyst for deeper introspection, challenging characters' values and leading to a conclusion that is emotionally unresolved or bittersweet.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their combination of a slow, deliberate pacing, a dominant melancholic tone, and a central narrative driven by a relationship that defies social norms. They share a heavy emotional weight and explore themes of existential crisis, sexual transgression, and loss.

Unlock the Full Story of Before the Revolution

Don't stop at just watching — explore Before the Revolution in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Before the Revolution is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Before the Revolution Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Before the Revolution, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Before the Revolution Summary

Before the Revolution Timeline

Track the full timeline of Before the Revolution with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Before the Revolution Timeline

Before the Revolution Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Before the Revolution that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Before the Revolution Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Before the Revolution

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Before the Revolution: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Before the Revolution

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