The best Italian films almost always have a strong sense of landscape. And this is no exception. The place, which is probably in the province of Rovigo, along the river Po, is beautifully evoked by Mazzacurati. The story begins as a chronicle of everyday life in a very small town in Veneto (the area is called Polesine and it is near the Po delta). The only small event is the arrival of a new, young teacher in the local primary school. But this small event triggers other events, and somewhat disturbs the drowsy life of the place, peacefully drowned in the mists and the fog of the Po valley. But then, when 3/4 of the story have lapsed, there is a jolt, and the film turns into a crime story when the teacher is killed. It seems that everything is clear, and the culprit is quickly identified, arrested and sentenced--but things are not what they seem.
I can imagine how a Hollywood director might have managed this story. Thanks god the movie wasn't shot in Hollywood. It works perfectly the way it is: with its slow rhythm and its minimal but elegant directing style. It also manages to show viewers a tranche de vie of today's provincial Italy, and say something clever and not at all foregone about the difficult integration of immigrants.
All in all, one of the best Italian movies of the new century.
I can imagine how a Hollywood director might have managed this story. Thanks god the movie wasn't shot in Hollywood. It works perfectly the way it is: with its slow rhythm and its minimal but elegant directing style. It also manages to show viewers a tranche de vie of today's provincial Italy, and say something clever and not at all foregone about the difficult integration of immigrants.
All in all, one of the best Italian movies of the new century.