Originally released in Italy as
Film d'Amore e d'Anarchia
, Lina Wertmuller's
Love and Anarchy
is set in the fascist-dominated Italy of the 1930s. Giancarlo Giannini plays an idealistic farmer swept up in an anti-fascist underground movement. His first task as a member is to assassinate Mussolini (talk about your initiation stunts!) While preparing to carry out his assignment, Giannini takes up residence in a whorehouse run by Mariangela Melato, another anti-Mussolinite. Giannini's resolve to carry out the assassination is weakened by his love for one of Melato's prostitutes, as well as his own essentially gentle nature.
was the first of Wertmuller's films to gain a U.S. release.