Divorce, Italian Style, Pietro Germis biggest success, is a deeply amoral morality tale about a provincial Sicilian aristocrat (Marcello Mastroianni, suggesting a dissipated seal, with pomaded scalp buffed to a brilliant shine). The unraveled end of his family line, the Baron spends endless idle hours scheming to fulfill two fixated fantasies: breaching the maidenhead of his nubile young cousin; and disposing of his harrowingly doting wife. In turns antic and hothouse sexy, buoyant, and bilious, the movies a model of graceful bustling, keeping a village full of characters (and their running gags) in circulation, with every just-so setup showing unimpeachable instinct. As the film glissades along, its obvious Germi hasnt abandoned sociology in his career transition from Neorealism to comedy. Paired with the filmboth running Fri. April 25-Thurs. May 1is Germis 1963 Seduced and Abandoned, which also lampoons conservative Sicily. (NR) Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., 267-5380, www.nwfilmforum.org. $5-$8.50. 7 p.m. NICK PINKERTON
Sun., April 27, 7 p.m., 2008
