Overview
A spontaneous road trip reveals the unexpected joys of life and friendship.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- exuberant
- wistful
- lazy sunday
- summer afternoon
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bruno's spontaneous holiday detour pulls Roberto away from studying and into a freely improvised trip.
Bruno's extroversion and thrill-seeking directly oppose Roberto's controlled, insecure student life.
Roberto gradually recognizes how stultified his life has become through prolonged contact with Bruno.
The Lancia Aurelia journey through holiday Italy and seaside settings gives the film its mobile, sunlit travel identity.
Films like Il Sorpasso, and why
The Easy Life
shared italian comedy, road movie structure, generational contrast, and bittersweet social observation
Midnight Run
shared impulsive journey, mismatched companions, comic energy, and emotional undercurrent
The Motorcycle Diaries
shared open-road adventure, male friendship, personal transformation, and wistful comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Dino Risi
- Release Date
- 1962-12-05
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 8.2 / 10 (871)
Cast
- Vittorio Gassman
- Jean-Louis Trintignant
- Catherine Spaak
- Claudio Gora
- Luciana Angiolillo
- Linda Sini
- Franca Polesello
- Bruna Simionato
- Lilly Darelli
- Mila Stanić
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Il Sorpasso about?
- An inhibited law student is swept into a reckless holiday drive that challenges his carefully restricted life.
- What is Il Sorpasso like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Il Sorpasso as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Il Sorpasso violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Il Sorpasso as mild.
- Which films are like Il Sorpasso?
- Films with a similar feel include The Easy Life, Midnight Run, and The Motorcycle Diaries.
- How long is Il Sorpasso?
- Il Sorpasso runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Il Sorpasso?
- In United States, Il Sorpasso streams on Criterion Channel.
