Renowned British director Joe Wright, celebrated for films like Darkest Hour and Atonement, has described fascism as a “global problem” and the “politicisation of toxic masculinity.” Speaking to Sky News ahead of his new series Mussolini: Son of the Century, Wright explained his personal journey to understand the ideology, which he believes “exists everywhere.”
The series chronicles Benito Mussolini’s rise, from founding the Fasci Italiani organisation after World War I to his infamous 1925 speech in parliament. Featuring award-winning actor Luca Marinelli as Mussolini, the adaptation of Antonio Scurati’s bestselling novel delves deeply into the roots of fascism and its global influence.
Wright acknowledged his initial misunderstanding of the term, stating, “Growing up in the 80s, the word fascist was bandied about against any authoritarian figure, but I don’t think I really understood what it meant.” He further reflected on the resurgence of far-right populism and the relevance of fascist concepts in today’s political landscape.
Antonio Scurati, whose book inspired the series, said, “To understand deeply what fascism has been in my country and elsewhere, it is necessary to look deeply at the fascist inside us.” The author emphasized Mussolini’s mastery of the “politics of fear,” contrasting it with the hope-driven Socialist movement he abandoned.
Wright echoed the sentiment, noting that fascism remains a contentious issue in Italy and beyond. He concluded, “What I discovered was that fascism is a politicisation of toxic masculinity, and that exists everywhere.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
