Il Sorpasso

On Ferragosto, Bruno tears through the streets of Rome in a flashy Lancia Aurelia while Roberto lends him his phone. Bruno is late for a meeting with friends who have already left, so they decide to embark on a road trip. They head north along the Via Aurelia toward Lazio.

Bruno drives aggressively, honking, tailgating, and trying to pass every car in front. He revels in speed and bravado, while Roberto watches with a mix of fascination and unease. The road becomes a stage for Bruno's charismatic but dangerous style.

The pair stop to visit Roberto's relatives, where Bruno points out his aunt's cuckold and a relative nostalgic for fascism. The pointed remarks unsettle Roberto and challenge the quiet confidence of his upbringing. This detour exposes social tensions simmering beneath their vacation freedom.

Bruno, tired of studying and financially strapped, impulsively visits his estranged wife Gianna and their daughter Lilli. He reveals their hasty early twenties marriage and that he has not pursued an annulment. He also confesses to stealing 600,000 lire intended to bribe the monsignor, shocking Gianna.

During a tense evening, Bruno tries to seduce Gianna, but she resists and sets clear boundaries. Bruno confronts the fragility of his past decisions while Lilli watches with quiet skepticism. With no place to stay, the two men end up sleeping on the beach.

Next day, Gianna, Lilli, and Bibi go on a boat cruise. Bruno hones a flirtation with a young woman, who is actually Lilli in disguise. Gianna invites Bruno and Roberto to join the outing, signaling a chance to reconnect with Lilli and the family.

Roberto spends time with the women on board, receiving compliments but remaining shy about pursuing romance. He hesitates to call his own crush despite Bruno's encouragement. The cruise becomes a social test for both men as they navigate desire and self doubt.

Bibi explains that he does not expect Lilli to love him, but he will take good care of her. Bruno then asks Bibi for a loan, pushing for a 50,000 lire stake on a ping-pong match.

Bruno wins the ping-pong bet, but the victory offends Bibi, who takes Gianna and Lilli away on the boat, leaving Bruno behind. The moment exposes Bruno's entitlement and the fragility of his connections. His carefree mask remains intact despite the setback.

On the way back, Roberto imitates Bruno's swagger, shouting at other drivers and urging Bruno to drive more aggressively. A road rage incident escalates on a cliffside road, and Bruno swerves to avoid an oncoming truck, sending the car off the cliff. Roberto dies in the crash.

A police officer arrives to question Bruno about the dead man. Bruno realizes that although Roberto had told Gianna his last name, he has forgotten it himself. The moment marks a brutal collapse of the illusion Bruno has maintained throughout the trip.

The trip ends with Bruno facing the consequences of his reckless lifestyle and the loss of a friend. He is left to confront the emptiness behind his charm and the fragility of the relationships he exploited.