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"The Story of a Perfect Crime ... Perfectly Hilarious!"
Big Deal on Madonna Street - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Lavorare stanca.
— Capannelle
Context:
This line is often cited as summing up the ethos of the film's protagonists. It's their resigned, half-joking response to the prospect of hard, legitimate work, which they view as a fruitless and exhausting endeavor compared to the dream of a big score.
Meaning:
Literally "Work is tiring." This simple phrase encapsulates the worldview of the characters. It's a humorous but poignant expression of their aversion to honest labor and their justification for seeking a criminal shortcut. It reflects the broader social fatigue and disillusionment of the era.
Rubare è un mestiere serio, ci vuole gente seria.
— Cosimo
Context:
Cosimo says this early on, trying to impress upon his associates the gravity and potential of his pawnshop heist plan. The rest of the film proceeds to hilariously prove just how far he and his crew are from being the "serious people" required for the job.
Meaning:
"Stealing is a serious profession. It requires serious people." This line is deeply ironic, as it's spoken by a character who is part of the most unserious and inept gang of thieves imaginable. It highlights the gap between the self-perception of criminals and the bumbling reality portrayed in the film, and it's a direct jab at the hyper-professional criminals in movies like "Rififi."