Marcello Mastroianni vs. tsetse flies in 1955 colonial Africa—what could go wrong?
A team of doctors sets out through a steamy African jungle to check an outbreak of sleeping sickness.
Cinematography
Glorious Technicolor jungle that probably killed no crew members
Acting
Mastroianni's pre-stardom intensity before Fellini made him cool
Director
Folco Quilici
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot partly in Belgian Congo during final years of colonial rule; Kerima was a French-Algerian dancer 'discovered' for this role.
Napolitano's documentary background shows in disease-vector footage, but the narrative framing hasn't aged—this is essentially Italian neorealism's awkward colonial cousin.
IT
