Actuakers
One of my all time favorites.
Isbel
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Scarlet
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
ravitchn
Once the Italians gave up on realism in film they were stuck with movies by such dullards as Antonioni, the bored doings of the rich and fashionable Italians. This movie is not about rich and fashionable Italians but it is still boring. Sexual attraction, can you believe it?, causes problems for all involved and the principal characters have to decide how far they will go in self gratification which also involves harming many other people. Here the ending could go any number of ways and the way it finally goes is certainly believable but also banal. I cannot imagine two more boring hours with some very unappealing Milanesi, not one is really attractive, male or female. Perhaps this is the new realism; give me the old!
kikoshaus
This is a film I enjoyed watching it because even the awkward situations are well done. I didn't feel uncomfortable with any of the sex scenes even though the film poster could make people outside the cinema think this film would only be about the main image of the poster. I liked the fact Anna is more like a guy, she seems to be sexually practical and she even starts the touching with Domenico whereas the latter seems to be like a kid, waiting for orders of what to do next. He also seems not being afraid of his feelings for Anna and expresses what he feels; he's also the first one to say "I Love You" for example; which shows this character not as the typical jerk who enjoyed the time with the girl and then no matter he got attached to her or not, he (or she) just leaves. However, I think this film, rather than a standard film should be categorized as documentary film, enjoyable BTW or something. I didn't see such a strong connection of events leading to something specific in the whole movie. It's love affair, love, dilemma? but, what else? I don't see clearly what's the story to be told. I say documentary film because it describes so well how Anna and Domenico deal with passion and love. We learned a lot about those two concepts after watching "Come Undone" but I'm not sure we saw a story being told? Overall, I enjoyed whatever Silvio Soldini wanted to share with us though I'd die to ask him "what exactly did you have in mind, Silvio"?
simona gianotti
It is hard not to feel rather sad after watching this movie, which stands out for the strong realism of both situations and characters. Realism is to be perceived in the difficulty of ordinary people having to live on precarious jobs, people for whom love and even more unfaithfulness seems a luxury, not so easy to afford. The movie reminded me of a French movie I have seen recently, "Partir", where a story of unfaithfulness and betrayal is one between a well-off but disappointed middle-age wife and a former convict. Different settings, different conditions, different endings, but same sadness. And the consciousness that whichever opinion one may have about betrayal, what is certain is that it's a dangerous means of self-destruction, mainly for women, those who lose more and find it difficult to start everything anew. The passionate love encounters between Anna and Domenico are marked by such intensity, preluding to an equally strong final sense of void and anguish. One may judge or not both characters, but some questions arise: why choosing to destroy oneself and one's family so easily? Why and what for do men and women hurt themselves? Probably unsolved questions, part of the mystery of human nature. Good, well focused and believable interpretations are delivered by Pierfrancesco Favino and Alba Rohrwacher, supported by a wise direction, which lets the viewer see the bare crudity of some human relations, together with the sometimes incomprehensible nature of human behaviour.
kipale78
Silvio Soldini is a very good director. At his best, he can give us touching, inspiring comedies like "Pane e Tulipani" or in-depth social studies like "Un'anima divisa in due".Unfortunately this film seems to be stuck in the middle, and ultimately have no point. Well acted (Giuseppe Battiston is always a guarantee), interestingly filmed, too little edited. Yes, the editor could have left some more out of it.The analysis of the Italian contemporary society (financial struggle, emptiness, fear of engagement) is quite precise, but gets lost in a never-ending (and repeating) lovers' story, everybody gets tired about. The audience tend to look forward the other characters, the whole support cast (the friends, the betrayed companions, the families), because these two really go back an forth, back and forth, back and forth...Alba Rohrwacher doesn't seem to have enough to work on, in terms of creating a complete character. She's good, but seeing her driving around for a while doesn't take the story anywhere. Pierfrancesco Favino has a more interesting character, and Teresa Saponangelo has a standardized role (as a betrayed wife and mother of screaming children) that we've seen way to often (what a missed opportunity).At the end of the 'World Première', here in Berlin, Silvio Soldini didn't really know what to say, except to thank for the polite applauses. That's the point: he has the craft, the skills, the production means and the crew to create something new and revealing. We still love you, but please wait for the inspiration, next time. A film can come out wrong like "Agata e la tempesta" and still be an enjoyable experience, but if there is nothing to say, better to pass on to the next project.Also, please have the English subtitles redone. They were pretty bad. Don't cut corners and have them done better next time. Thanks!
