It's pretty hard to root for a protagonist who happily cheats on a nice girl like the one Minnie Driver played. Even played by Stanley Tucci, one of our best actors.
shareYes he was.
Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, and / or doesn't.
Like it or not, this was normal behavior in the 50s.
shareWhat do the 50s have to do with it?
He was screwing Phyllis because she worked at the bank. He was hoping it would help them buy time before foreclosure. In a distorted way he was actually cheating on Gabriella with Phyllis.
So yes totally an ass to be having an affair with a married woman and then date a nice single girl just to gain influence at the bank.
Secondo was user of people.
I think he genuinely was in love with Gabriella. I do not think he just had an affair with her to psychological stick it to Pascal who was obviously gay and who I think Secondo detested.
Remember the scene where Phyllis wanted to go all the way(intercourse) with Secondo? He refused. So that is an indication he had little attraction to Phyllis but also because he loved Gabriella. Also might have been afraid of a pregnancy. She did say that they "did other things".
Then after having sex with Gabriella she complains he is not spending enough time with her. So he was basically cheating in some way on both of them. Emotionally and sexually.