Watch The Spider's Stratagem

The Spider's Stratagem is a 1970 Italian psychological thriller directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. The film is based on the short story "Theme of the Traitor and the Hero" by Jorge Luis Borges. The movie follows Athos Magnani, a young man who returns to his hometown of Tara in Italy to investigate the mysterious death of his father, a hero of the Resistance who died in World War II. Athos is convinced that his father was not a traitor, as the town's citizens believe, and he is determined to prove his innocence.

As Athos investigates his father's death, he is confronted with a perplexing series of puzzle pieces that lead him to believe his father's death might be more than what it appears to be. Athos begins to piece together the truth about his father's death, and at the centre of it all is a woman named Draifa, who holds many of the secrets to his father's past.

Throughout the film, Athos struggles with his own identity as he tries to reconcile his father's legacy with the reality of what happened. Despite the town's simmering hatred for him, he is determined to uncover the truth about his father's death and to restore his family's honour.

The film is visually stunning, with Bertolucci's camera work capturing the beauty of the Italian countryside and the tension between the townsfolk and Athos. Bertolucci's use of surrealistic imagery and shifting perspectives add to the film's dreamlike quality, giving the film an element of unpredictability.

Giulio Brogi's portrayal of Athos Magnani is masterful. Brogi gives Athos a sense of vulnerability that makes him relatable to the audience, despite the character's determined and sometimes obsessive nature. Alida Valli's performance as Draifa is also captivating, with Valli imbuing the character with a sense of mystery and ambiguity that keeps the audience guessing about her true motivations.

The film's score, composed by Ennio Morricone, is hauntingly beautiful and perfectly complements the film's mysterious and dreamlike tone.

The Spider's Stratagem is a fascinating exploration of the ambiguity of truth and reality. Bertolucci expertly weaves together elements of mystery and surrealism to create a film that keeps the audience on edge throughout. The film is an intriguing exploration of how our perceptions of truth and reality are shaped by our experiences and our own biases.

Overall, The Spider's Stratagem is an excellent example of Bertolucci's masterful storytelling and the power of cinema to explore complex themes and ideas. The film is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers and surrealist cinema.

The Spider's Stratagem is a 1970 mystery with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.