Traffic Jam

Traffic Jam (original Italian title: L'ingorgo - Una storia impossibile) is a 1979 satirical comedy-drama directed by Luigi Comencini, produced as a co-production between Italy, France, Germany and Spain. Although uncredited, it is based on Julio Cortázar's 1966 short story "La autopista del Sur," with Comencini, Ruggero Maccari and Bernardino Zapponi sharing screenplay credit.

The story unfolds on an Italian motorway where hundreds of cars become trapped in an enormous, unmoving traffic jam. Day gives way to night with no sign that the situation will improve. Under these extreme conditions, the enforced proximity of strangers confined to their vehicles brings out a wide range of behavior — solidarity, conflict, desperation and absurdity. Rooted in the commedia all'italiana tradition, the film works as a bitter satire of consumer society and paints a distinctly pessimistic portrait of human nature.

The ensemble cast brings together major European stars of the era, including Alberto Sordi, Marcello Mastroianni, Stefania Sandrelli, Ugo Tognazzi, Annie Girardot, Fernando Rey and Ángela Molina. The film was presented in competition at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival.