America Latina (2021) User Reviews

This is not a thriller in the first place

[lewianbra · 7/10 · 16 August 2022]

After having read some negative reviews I was quite skeptical about this film, but ultimately I don't regret having watched it.

I think the problem with this film has to do with wrong expectations. Many who watch it may expect a thriller, and as such it misses some features that a good thriller should have. The storyline is not very intriguing for a thriller, it isn't logically very sharp, and we see quite a number of things that don't contribute to the thriller element.

The key to this film is that we experience the perception of the main actor, which is clearly disturbed. We may think that we can reconstruct a real story from this perception, but in my view this is rather a film about mental illness, inspired by the concept of "The Father", and as such it works pretty well. As in "The Father", the audience is left with some open questions, although we may be slightly less confused about what really happened, and instead the psychological background is less clear. However I am willing to buy into this, particularly because I am familiar with some of the psychological symbolism (the secret in the basement; the rising water) from my own dreams, so this resonates with me. This is not a film for those who want to understand everything (even though I'm never sure whether others could understand what I can't), rather for those curious about the experience to get into the head of a disturbed and confused character. We can interpret, but the help we get is limited.

The photography is particularly good, and I don't have complaints about the performance of the actors. The film suffers a bit from trying to keep the hope alive that it could be a thriller, but ultimately it captured me and gave me food for thought.

Among the mists of the domestic, the shadows of the soul

[gsilecchia · 7/10 · 21 April 2024]

Damiano and Fabio D'Innocenzo, already known in the Italian film world thanks to "La terra dell'abbastanza" and "Favolacce", present at the Venice Film Festival "America Latina", a psychological thriller that stands out for its mastery. The film follows Massimo Sisti, portrayed by Elio Germano, a dentist in Latina whose quiet life is disrupted by the discovery of a girl tied up in his basement. "America Latina" takes us on a gradual and tragic journey into Massimo's existential hell, whose seemingly serene world crumbles after the unexpected event. Elio Germano delivers an extraordinary interpretation of the character, while the D'Innocenzo brothers guide the audience through an intimate and profound experience. The film effectively blends elements of thriller and psychological drama, portraying Massimo's house as a deformed place reflecting his troubled psyche. The symbolism-rich cinematography draws inspiration from Italian horror cinema, while the meticulous sound design adds a sense of growing unease. However, the choice to subtract rather than add details in the plot could prove problematic, making the narrative progression less impactful. Although the mystery surrounding the tied-up girl creates constant tension, it may leave some viewers with few answers. The film explores the contradiction between the apparent tranquility of Massimo's life and the darkness lurking behind the facade, shedding light on the human and narrative ruins of the outskirts of Latina. While some viewers may appreciate the baroque approach and the reflection stimulated by the subtraction of details, others may feel lost in a labyrinth of elusive meanings."America Latina" represents a bold experiment in Italian cinema. While it may be too abstract for some, others may be fascinated by the dark shadows permeating the narrative, anchored by Elio Germano's masterful performance.

A waste of talent

[Julesbro77 · 19 January 2022]

There are many good talents in this film: the lead actor Elio Germano among the best, if not the best Italian actor, the photography of Paolo Carnera (great imagery) and also the take that the D'Innocenzo brothers have on this story.

The film starts well, as a good old thriller, with an interesting set up but after the first act it the story gets lost in self indulgent beautiful images that don't push the story forward nor give us an insight of the turmoil of the lead character. It's a pity and a waste of talent because of a convoluted script. I've loved D'innocenzo's first film, but this and the previous one confirm both their talent and the lack of a good fertilizer to make it grow.

A deja vu story lacking basic skills

[azoso08 · 4/10 · 14 May 2022]

Seen this plot over and over yet besides a decent acting from Germano and an above average photography, it remains a below the average movie that does not deserve accolades and the time to watch it.

The overwhelming weight of uncertainty

[FelNetti96 · 8/10 · 24 July 2022]

This is a strange, distressing, unpredictable, painful, touching and fascinating film, which stages the true power of the mysteries of Life and Mind, true regulators of our doubts and desires, the most unknown and shocking ones to ourselves even before to anyone else.

The D'Innocenzo twins continue their already impactful cinematographic journey with a third film that reconfirms their sincere desire to bring a direct and incisive cinema without accepting compromises and putting into play all their inspiration that allows them to realize every kind of story in a sincere and competent way, bringing a clear breath of fresh air to the cinema scene, not only Italian, of recent years.

A truly peculiar story that from the very first frame throws the viewers without warning into a quick journey without restraints, making them walk side by side with the protagonist himself, an ordinary man who leads a stable life and seasoned by success at work and by the unconditional love of his wife and daughters, 'til the most unexpected and chaotic discovery that will truly turn everything he knows upside down.

This is a real Thriller capable of putting in check and mercilessly hitting every certainty of those who take part in it, both as a spectator and as an integral part of the story, starting with Massimo, rendered by Elio Germano who as always releases his essence of a true actor able to adapt to any atmosphere, transmitting all the sensitive fragility of a man who has everything but who, forced to face such an incredible unexpected event, finds himself exposing even more the suffocating elements that surround his not so sure existence, despite the evident affection of his loved ones.

The direction of the twins immediately keeps us in suspense, always using very close-ups that directly crush the settings and faces to outline a feeling of ample vastness and at the same time of claustrophobic oppression, thanks also to the great photography and the unique sets that illustrate a Latina immersed in the glowing atmosphere of radiant growing instability.