Leonardo Da Vinci The Tragic Pursuit of Perfection

Matthew, a rich nationalist Jew and a contemporary of Jesus, regards the latter as an obstacle in this struggle to free their people from the Roman yoke by means of revolt.

On the occasion of a sculpture exhibition organized at the Musée Cernuschi in 1959 on the theme of the relationship between East and West through fifty centuries of art, Enrico FULCHIGNONI attempts to show how, through Egyptian art, Greek art was influenced by Etruscan and Oriental arts. Commentary by Pierre HENRY, narrated by Pierre CHAMBON, and camera work highlight the similarities between the various sculpted statuettes, in terms of profiles, smiles and attitudes. The original music by Iannis XENAKIS seems to pay homage to these vanished civilizations.

Aldo Piscitello, a minor government clerk, is forced in 1934 to join the Fascist party. When the war comes, he finds himself able only to talk ineffectually in secret against Mussolini, even as his own son Giovanni is sent into battle. By the end of the war, Aldo has found the courage to stand up for his beliefs, but by then it is too late.

An American in Paris lives by sponging off his working friends, and throws a party using borrowed money when his rich American aunt dies, believing firmly in his horoscope.