Movie Backdrop

Tales of Ordinary Madness streaming

Original title: Storie di ordinaria follia

1981 Movie Italy, France Drama 96 min

By: Marco Ferreri With: Wendy Welles, Ornella Muti, Katya Berger, Ben Gazzara, Judith Drake

After a lecture where a poem is read out to a group of bored students, the alcoholic and sex addicted poet, Charles Serking, meets a young girl backstage. Then he travels to Los Angeles, and has sex with bizarre women. When Charles meets the gorgeous self-destructive prostitute Cass in a bar, he finds his soul mate and falls in love for her.

Filmium rating

70%

Festival Achievements

Rotterdam International Film Festival 1982

Selections:

IFFR Selection

San Sebastian International Filmfestival 1981

Selections:

Official Section

Mood

Dark

Introspective

Melancholic

Cast & Crew

Marco Ferreri

Sergio Amidei

Charles Bukowski

Tobin Bell

Susan Tyrrell

Katya Berger

Patrick Hughes

Hope Cameron

Wendy Welles

Ornella Muti

Tanya Lopert

Judith Drake

Ben Gazzara

Roy Brocksmith

Ben Gazzara (Actor)

Marco Ferreri (Director)

Ornella Muti (Actor)

Adaptation

Based On Bukowski'S Works

Literary Adaptation

Budget

Independent

Low-Budget

Cinematic Technique

Documentary-Style

Handheld

Naturalistic

Film Movements

Art-House

Independent Cinema

Narrative Structure

Episodic

Nonlinear

Pace

Meditative

Slow-Paced

Runtime

Art-House

Feature-Length

Soundtrack

Ambient

Jazz-Influenced

Style

Cinematic

Gritty

Realistic

Time-Period

1980S

Early 80S

Central Conflict

Artistic Struggle

Love And Loss

Self-Destruction

Characters

Alcoholic

Artist

Hooker

Poet

Ending

Catharsis

Nostalgic

Return To Poetry

Historical Context

1980S

Counterculture

Literary Adaptation

Key Plot Points

Alcoholic Relapse

Career Opportunity

Cass'S Suicide

Relationship With Cass

Plot

Poetry And Alcoholism

Sexual Escapades

Urban Decay

Setting

Less Reputable Neighborhoods

Los Angeles

Seaside

Shooting Location

Beach Scenes

Los Angeles

Theme

Artistic Expression

Self-Destruction

Sexual Liberation

Genre

Art-House

Biographical

Drama

Audiences

Adults

Art-House Cinephiles

Literature Fans

Titles

Tales Of Ordinary Madness

Awards

Best Director

David Of Donatello

Silver Ribbon

Critical Reception

Mixed Reviews

Negative Nyt Review

Popularity

Cult Following In Europe

Reception

Artistic Acclaim

European Success

Mixed Us Reviews

Production Countries

Italy

United States

Release Year

1981

mowizz ID: 10455e5d-1134-40e3-8a7e-c214a84cda80