One of my co-workers, a former video store clerk, insisted that I borrow a few animation tapes he had stored away in some box at his house. The next day I was handed a white paper bag, presumably the very same that were used by his former employers during the 80's. Inside were two VHS bootlegs still sealed in the very same sleeves they were originally rented from. One was "Heavy Metal" the other "Allegro Non Troppo".
Weary that this was some sort of scheme to trick me into accidentally viewing a homemade porno flick, my fears were immediately put to rest by the smooth sounds of old VHS crackling and burning its way through my TV screen. Allegro Non Troppo was about to begin.
Intended as an Italian parody of Disney's Fantasia, the comparisons are hard to ignore. Especially when the films narrator himself initiates the comparison. At one point speaking to a Disney spokesperson by phone, our host shouts angrily, "inbred Californian"! Sparking a long running theme throughout that while impressive, western culture is destructive and cannot be trusted. At least that is how I took it.
Daring to go further then Disney ever could have imagined, the film intertwines the hard hitting social commentary of the animated shorts with the live action hi jinks of a dysfunctional orchestra. Themes ranging from our superficial standards of beauty to evolution and the long term effects of war are ferociously touched upon. Whenever you think the film is about to take itself to seriously, the orchestra shows up to lighten the mood.
When not animated the film is shot as sort of a pseudo documentary. What immediately struck me was how strikingly similar in terms of style and atmosphere this all felt to the Italian Mondo Cane films of the same era. Crude humor and skillful camera work stirred with an emotionally charged score and a pinch of over acting. I suppose it is an antiquated style, but I'd love to see it refurbished one day. What these films lack in terms of good taste they more then make up for with charm.
While Pixar fans may find themselves disappointed, I would argue that this film combines a little bit of everything that made the 1970's such a splendid time to witness the evolution of ballsy filmmaking. Allegro Non Troppo is worthy of induction into any fan's collection of cult titles.
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