The movie has a storyline that does not work, you soon lose interest, it is full of stupid mistakes (e.g. since when do border guards in Tunisia speak Italian?) and it is truly badly acted. Many - supposedly - dramatic moments are acted in a way that makes them pathetic and laughable. The worst things of all is that it tries hard to have a intellectual/ social/ political message when at the end it is only a rather stereotypical story of lesbian love and meeting of different cultures. There is nothing really interesting in this film. Another silly Italian movie that is made solely with (Italian and European) taxpayers' money...
6 Reviews
Trust and strength
rfinean29 March 2008
A beautifully filmed story about trust and the strains that out-of-the-blue events can place on it.
Its pace is humdrum, the boy is emotionally needy and inexperienced and the two women have some differences they haven't yet come to terms with as a couple. The three main characters are totally believable, vulnerable and engaging - I couldn't help but feel empathy for all of them.
I really didn't notice if there were mistakes in the background, the story about the three of them had me captivated. I thoroughly enjoyed this film.
Its pace is humdrum, the boy is emotionally needy and inexperienced and the two women have some differences they haven't yet come to terms with as a couple. The three main characters are totally believable, vulnerable and engaging - I couldn't help but feel empathy for all of them.
I really didn't notice if there were mistakes in the background, the story about the three of them had me captivated. I thoroughly enjoyed this film.
Will Love Survive Class Differences?
maisonland6 April 2007
The film "Shelter" by Marco S. Puccioni is a film that exhibits the personal and interpersonal relationship between two women (who happen to be lovers) and the involvement of an illegal immigrant who enters both of their lives only to demonstrate and unfold by chance all the problems between the two protagonists.
The relationship between the two women seems to deteriorate at the beginning of the film. Anna, discovers Anis and chooses not to tell her lover, Mara. Anna assumes all the responsibility or power in her decision not to tell Mara. This perfectly foreshadows the lost of trust and hope between Anna and Mara..
However, the young boy, Anis is used as a pawn, between the two women to use at their disposal in order to display power. Is this a subconscious statement made by Mr. Puccioni concerning the West's problems with the South?
But we obviously see the class differences from Anna to Mara and from Mara to Anis. At some point, all three people need each other in order to exist and change, but at the expense of whom?
The relationship between the two women seems to deteriorate at the beginning of the film. Anna, discovers Anis and chooses not to tell her lover, Mara. Anna assumes all the responsibility or power in her decision not to tell Mara. This perfectly foreshadows the lost of trust and hope between Anna and Mara..
However, the young boy, Anis is used as a pawn, between the two women to use at their disposal in order to display power. Is this a subconscious statement made by Mr. Puccioni concerning the West's problems with the South?
But we obviously see the class differences from Anna to Mara and from Mara to Anis. At some point, all three people need each other in order to exist and change, but at the expense of whom?
perhaps not a masterpiece, but yet very powerful!
denpolites1 April 2011
Warning: Spoilers
a couple (lesbian, but I don't't think that this fact is essential) returning from holidays discovers an illegal immigrant in their car. The story doesn't really matters, the ideas are to be mentioned. The one is a rich, factory owner, the other is a poor worker. Curiously enough is the rich lady who treats the immigrant well and with compassion. But as the story evolves we clearly see that the other woman has a more lot in common with the boy. I think that the key phrase is what is said at the end of the film. 'You have the luxury to be nice!' Eventually the lesbian theme distracts a little from the true content of the film, although there is no explicit sex. The social and political message is subtle but strong. The ruling class has the power to handle the life of the others, although it seems that cares. The reaction of the boy is well understood, not violent as it should be. the clash of civilizations is a little bit naive, he just cannot understand the lesbian relationship, but anyway it exists. The acting is not bad, and I think that the boy is superb. In total is a very interesting film, that anybody could enjoy, without much effort.
best Italian movie
kirovsashimi8 April 2008
I saw this film yesterday night and I really enjoyed it. I don't' understand the comment from the guy from Holland, I thought it's totally believable that a border guard used to the flow of tourist speaks Italian. OK, there may be some not coherent moments or continuity issues, so what? If a film like this totally draws into its world, it means it works. Actors were wonderful, and the situation doesn't have an easy way out. I believe it's a complex, film with a lot of issues and it will stay with me forever, I strongly suggest you try to watch it as soon as possible. I didn't see such a good Italian movie in a long, long time.
great story
cesetevi15 August 2012
I think this is a nice gay movie as good as milk(2008).all three characters are needy people,have personel issues and are not happy.how they encounter is also very rare.anna thinks being nice is love.but not.anna can't get love from her family and tries to fill that gap with being nice to mara,anis or other people.she is lonely.mara is aware of evetyhing.she feels like anna's mistress.mara also can't get love from her family.after she loses her father she tries to fill that gap with sleeping with anis.maybe she thinks she has to be nice to anis.anna and mara characters are very similar.but what they share is not love.they try to escape their family and find each other.we don't know anything about anis family.In the end everything collapses around these three characters and they face their real life and stop pretending because they don't have much choice.
I like that chair very much :) is that real? I am a maria de medeiros fan btw.she's a perfect fit for her role.That gun pointing scene is exaggarated I guess.because nobody runs out with a gun when he sees his car being stolen.
I read a review from someone in amsterdam.that review is so unfair and harsh.before writing such a review you should have looked what rewards this movie got.
I like that chair very much :) is that real? I am a maria de medeiros fan btw.she's a perfect fit for her role.That gun pointing scene is exaggarated I guess.because nobody runs out with a gun when he sees his car being stolen.
I read a review from someone in amsterdam.that review is so unfair and harsh.before writing such a review you should have looked what rewards this movie got.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
