Born in London in 1910, Antonino Faà di Bruno transitioned from a military career to acting after retiring as a Brigadier General in 1964. His towering presence and baritone voice made him a fitting choice for roles of authority and nobility. In Pigsty (1969), he embodies the complex character dynamics that define the film's exploration of societal norms. Faà di Bruno's aristocratic background and commanding performance contribute to the film's cult status, reflecting the intersection of high art and provocative themes in Italian cinema.
Pigsty
The film features two parallel stories. The first one is set in an unknown past time and is about a young man (Clémenti) who wanders in a volcanic landscape (shot around Etna) and turns into a cannibal. The man joins forces with a thug (Citti) and ravages the countryside. At the end, he and his gang get arrested and at his execution, he recites the famous tagline of the film: "I killed my father, I ate human flesh and I quiver with joy." The story is about the human capacity of destruction and a rebellion against the social prerequisites implied against it. The second story is about Herr Klotz (Lionelli), a German industrialist and his young son Julian (Léaud) who live in 1960s Germany. Julian, instead of passing time with his radically politicised fiancée Ida (Wiazemsky), prefers to build relationships with pigs. Herr Klotz, on the other hand, with his loyal aide Hans Guenther (Ferreri), tries to solve his rivalry with fellow industrialist Herdhitze (Tognazzi). The two industrialists join forces while Julian gets eaten by pigs in the sty. Herdhitze intends to conceal the event. The story attempts to provide a link between the Third Reich and Wirtschaftswunder Germany.
