Bernardo Bertolucci’s epic 1900 is a monumental study of Italian class conflict and history.

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning over five hours, Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1976 masterpiece 1900 chronicles the intertwined lives of a landowner and a peasant born on the same day in 1901. This sweeping historical drama navigates the volatile shift from fascism to communism, cementing its legacy as a cult classic despite its notoriously complex distribution history.

Set in the Emilia region of Italy, the film follows the parallel lives of Alfredo Berlinghieri, born into a wealthy landowning family, and Olmo Dalcò, an illegitimate peasant. Their friendship persists through the tumultuous first half of the 20th century, serving as a lens for the broader political struggles between fascist forces and socialist movements. As Italy moves through World War I, the rise of the National Fascist Party, and the eventual liberation in 1945, the characters grapple with the shifting power dynamics of their society.

The film is perhaps best known for its staggering length. The original director's cut runs 317 minutes, leading to significant friction between Bertolucci and producer Alberto Grimaldi. While international markets often saw the film in two parts, American distribution was fraught with controversy. Paramount Pictures required a shorter version, and after Bertolucci resisted cuts, the film underwent various edits, including a 247-minute version and a 180-minute cut produced without the director's involvement. These editorial battles resulted in different ratings, including an X rating for the uncut version and an R rating for the American edit.

Beyond its production woes, 1900 remains a significant cultural artifact. In 2008, it was named one of the 100 Italian films to be saved by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, recognized for its role in shaping the country's collective memory. Featuring a score by Ennio Morricone and an international ensemble cast including Robert De Niro and Gérard Depardieu, the film continues to be studied for its cinematic ambition. While American critical reception has been mixed, the film’s restoration and subsequent home-video releases have solidified its status as a vital, if divisive, piece of historical cinema.

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