I am very confused by this movie. Like I honestly don't mind the acting or anything else. In fact, the story caught my attention until I got lost. I literally saw the ending and I felt like half of the movie was missing. What happened to Elena exactly? Did she die, or did she get cured? They are in the present at the beach, and suddenly they pass by a past version of themselves? At this point I was lost and I could not believe it was the ending.
10 Reviews
Disappointingly Superficial Romantic Drama
l_rawjalaurence1 August 2014
Inspired by the Beauty and the Beast myth, Ferzan Özpetek's latest film has bourgeois would-be café owner Elena (Kasia Smutniak) falling in love with mechanic Antonio (Francesco Arca). Initially it seems that they are totally incompatible, but animal attraction draws them together. After a whirlwind courtship, they marry and have two children. Later on in life Elena contracts breast cancer; Antonio finds it hard to deal with the news, leaving Elena's best friend Fabio (Filippo Schiccitano) to step into the breach. In hospital Elena strikes up a relationship with fellow-victim Egle (Paola Minaccioni), but this is brought to a cruel end with Egle's death. Meanwhile Antonio learns how to cope with his wife's illness, and the two look forward to a certain amount of happiness. Özpetek builds the narrative around a circular structure, beginning and ending with Elena and Antonio's courtship, with the cancer plot in the center. This enables viewers to focus on the ways in which pore-marital dreams are realized or not, as the case may be. Through the use of slow tracking shots and zooms into close-ups of the main protagonists, he invites us to reflect on the characters' emotions, expressed nonverbally as well as verbally. Although this is a clever technique, it seems rather out of place in a slight narrative which basically reinforces the message that love conquers all. There are also some unfortunate implausibilities of plot that jar somewhat: it is highly unlikely that Elena would resume work so soon after having had chemotherapy; and she would certainly not entertain the idea of making love to her husband immediately after having been given another dose of the same therapy. While the film contains at least one stand-out performance by Minaccioni as Egle, as she tries the best to put a brave face on life, despite her illness, it is ultimately very disappointing.
That delicate and bright touch by Fernand Ozpetek
yris20025 September 2014
One may like or not Ozpetek's movies, but what is undeniable is that peculiar delicate touch which makes his movies like paintings only sketched and never accomplished, because accomplishment is not what really matters. This does mean his movies are ethereal or lack sense or reality: on the contrary, they are imbued with reality, often with dramatic reality, and "Allacciate le cinture" is a fine example, but what remains is not the sense of drama, but the delicacy of sentiments. In this picture you will not find an original plot, but I have never seen the theme of cancer treated with such strong sense of reality and at the same time with such delicacy and even fun, focusing on a choral world of fear, love, rage, tenderness, amusement
Shooting is always very carefully devised as to close up to the characters' eyes, without the need of too many words, and everything is wrapped around a bright light, enveloping characters and situations in a comforting hug. The cast is also wisely chosen, I was positively surprised by Kasia Smutniak, who leaves the mark, beyond her disarming beauty. And then there's a whole world of recurring characters in his movies, but who touches for intensity and bravura is Paola Minaccioni, who made me laugh and cry so much
I have read negative reviews concerning a melodramatic attitude of the picture: I think melodrama is exactly what Ozpetek avoids, and successfully.
.. less could have really been a bit more
bjarias29 September 2014
It's truly a pretty decent little film.. with some very good performances. The two lead actors are both exceptionally gorgeous, and to the movie's credit, the film does not so much play on this fact, and you never feel their appearance gets in the way of the story. She is such an attractive woman (do a search on bing.com.. look at her amazing still images), for sure she's gotta be a model or actress. In addition to her natural beauty, she shows in this production she's got real acting talent.. her David di Donatello Best Actress nomination for this film was no fluke. There's no doubt the film would have benefited from being 15-20 minutes shorter. Lots of scenes were dragged out just a bit too long.. leaving viewers really wanting out of the moment. This can be said of lots of movies, the little word 'cut' being at times very hard to implement. And it's really unfortunate stateside audiences rarely get to viewing this style of films.. for they would have a positive impact and expand on the limited choices now offered by mainstream Hollywood.
Ferzan Ozpetek never disappoints
info-144766 April 2014
Ferzan Ozpetek never disappoints. The screenplay seems to me perfect, then the compliments as well as Ferzan Also go to writer Gianni Romulus Also that is the producer of the film along with Tilde Corsi. The film is gorgeous, strong. Extreme delicacy comes with a Theme Very particular and heard in these years. The love prevails over all. Soundtrack amazing. Mano a Mano Rino Gaetano contributes GET greatly excite During the Vision of the film. Cast of Actors EXCEPTION, all Talented. They are able to GET move and smile at the same time. The locations of the film are beautiful, Ozpetek Also with this film contributes strongly to the Promoting tourism in the Territory of Salento. A MUST SEE!
Such a disappointment!
timucin_savas17 November 2017
In the middle of the film, they ask Elena how she feels and she says "confused". It is the director, who is confused indeed. What was the point of the film? Opposites attract? There was no chemistry between the lead characters, even when they were nude. Acting was terrible except for Elena, who tries to shoulder the entire film. Unfortunately, the film does not work as a drama and neither as a comedy. I lose respect for films, in which directors try to talk through the characters. Actually, there is nothing in this film that will require the audience to fasten their seat-belts.
Amazing Film
guidoabbondanza-3825325 December 2018
Boring melodrama from Ozpetek
imursel27 September 2018
What a shame...
famiglia-vena15 December 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Without questioning the undoubtedly gifted Ozpetek as director, this movie is a collection of ordinary stereotypes filling a non-plot. Opzetek is talented - though not all of the actors in the movie - but already after 20 minutes you wander what is the point... all the stereotypes are there: the gay, the racist, the affairs among best friends, the sickness, the obsessive mother, the modern family... What a shame. Looking at the general high quality of Ozpetek's movies and noting the number of prizes and nominations obtain by this latter - by far the worst - it is legitimate questioning the value of such competitions! There is only one moment in which you may feel the movie could move to a better direction, but also this one is missed... you will see it.
beautiful sketch
Kirpianuscus21 May 2016
one of exercises of exploration of large territories of life. love, choices, sickness, Meridional family, marriage, perspective of death, friendship. like many films with same intentions, it is only a kind of essay. different by others films, it has a solid pillar who gives to it few nuances of seduction - the performance of Paola Minaccioni. far to be disappointed , it has the only sin to use same message, same tools, same lesson in same manner of a lot of others films about contemporary crisis. sure, the humor, the small crumbs of poetry are nice. but, in few cases, forced. or fakes. a film who propose questions. who gives perspectives. but who remains a beautiful sketch.
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