TORONTO -- Just in case the title doesn't say it all, An Italian Romance is indeed a big, glossy romance set in fascist Italy.
And that's the problem.
Everything about the Italian-French co-production has a warmed-over, been-there-done-that quality. Carlo Mazzacurati's film is certainly easy on the eyes, but the banal storytelling and uninteresting characters add up to a production that's as generic as its English-language title.
Meet Giovanni (Stefano Accorsi), a bank clerk who travels by train each day to his job in Livorno, a town that brings back old memories of a steamy interlude he once had with a blonde on the beach.
Meet Maria (Maya Sansa), the blonde in question who's now a brunette. Giovanni doesn't recognize her right away, but pretty soon he's making up for lost time, and the fact that he's got a wife and kid at home doesn't seem to be slowing either of them down.
While the performances are fine, the characters just aren't that interesting. Since Giovanni's being married and having a family doesn't seem to faze him in the least, his character is devoid of a conscience, robbing the story of some much needed conflict. Even the onset of World War II seems to be more about giving Giovanni an excuse to look good in a uniform rather than creating any real tension.
Director Mazzacurati may be saying that when two people are crazy in love, nothing else around them really matters. That's fine for them, but the onlookers need something more substantial than lush lighting and scenic vistas.
And that's the problem.
Everything about the Italian-French co-production has a warmed-over, been-there-done-that quality. Carlo Mazzacurati's film is certainly easy on the eyes, but the banal storytelling and uninteresting characters add up to a production that's as generic as its English-language title.
Meet Giovanni (Stefano Accorsi), a bank clerk who travels by train each day to his job in Livorno, a town that brings back old memories of a steamy interlude he once had with a blonde on the beach.
Meet Maria (Maya Sansa), the blonde in question who's now a brunette. Giovanni doesn't recognize her right away, but pretty soon he's making up for lost time, and the fact that he's got a wife and kid at home doesn't seem to be slowing either of them down.
While the performances are fine, the characters just aren't that interesting. Since Giovanni's being married and having a family doesn't seem to faze him in the least, his character is devoid of a conscience, robbing the story of some much needed conflict. Even the onset of World War II seems to be more about giving Giovanni an excuse to look good in a uniform rather than creating any real tension.
Director Mazzacurati may be saying that when two people are crazy in love, nothing else around them really matters. That's fine for them, but the onlookers need something more substantial than lush lighting and scenic vistas.
- 10/12/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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