Italian for Beginners
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Movie Reviews of Italian for Beginners
Movie Review: Take a lesson with them.
Summary: 5 Stars
Thomas Vinterberg and Lars Von Trier signed The Vow of Chastity, the defining rules for Dogma 95. Holding some major films as visit cards: The Idiots, Festen, Mifune, and now Italian for Beginners, Dogme 95 is bringing us some of the most interesting movies being made. Italian for beginners is a very good movie, you will feel peace in the end, having experienced envy, anger, deceit, shock, contempt, death, and love. It is another Dogme 95 movie, have no doubt about it. If you have seen other Dogme movies, you know these are not void of emotions, and you know you won't forget these movies easily. Italian for beginners gets stuck on you for the right reasons, and you will want to watch it another time. It is the story of a group of people who live in the same town and meet for italian lessons. The story of their relationships unfolds, each character bringing forward and learning to live with its own miseries, and in the end they all take a trip to Venice, where they reunite with life. Either for Venice, or Dogme, Italian for beginners has its moments of sheer magic. Good DVD, poor extras.Movie Review: Misleading marketing, excellent movie
Summary: 5 Stars
As usual, ingore the wildly off-base U.S. Marketing campaign. The coverbox here - sexy female legs in an exotically supine position - is both misleading and insulting. This movie spends 92%+ of its time in a provincial Danish town. The subjects are death, loneliness, and breaking out of that loneliness via tentatively made connections. It's a brilliantly done movie by Dogme 95 adherent Lone Scherfig. Consider it 'von Trier light,' but that cover box is bound to set up some for disappointment.
The Dogme style gives you a freshness you don't see in many Hollywood movies. In fact, 'Italian for Beginners' could almost pass for a home video (albeit one recorded by your Danish relatives).
For you Dogme fans:
- Pastor 'Andreas' is Anders Berthelsen, who played lead Kresten so memorably in 'Mifune.'
- Stadium restaurant manager Halfinn is 'Mifune' star Iben Hjejle's live-in partner.
- Ann Eleonora Jorgensen as Karen is - other than this movie - unknown to American audiences. A shame. Somebody hire this lady.
Movie Review: A Touching, Gentle, Tender Tale of Alienated People
Summary: 5 Stars
ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS is a unique little film. Like many of the better known Nordic films, this tale of disparate ordinary people who all have lost some of the joy of life, whether that be in the form of th loss of a family member or a job or a sense of self worth, has an edgy side that only demonstrates how close the masks of tragedy and comedy hang. Claustrophobic as Denmark in the winter, the setting and camera work enhance the passing needs we all feel when we are at our most vulnerable. The unifying element (or the modus exodus) for these likeable characters comes in their commonly attended Italian for Beginners class. The interaction between the characters is sweet, warming and gently humorous for all the background reality of making it through life. An excellent cast enhances this charming and moving story, one that should find a warm spot in everyone's heart. Highly recommended.Movie Review: Excellent Example of a Dogma Film
Summary: 5 Stars
Beware the myopic reviews by certain others here: they do not get the Dogma film movement and, more importantly, they do not get this film. With its emphasis on the acting--and not special effects, smarmy scores, or other cinematic sleight of hand--the Dogma film compels us to focus on _character._ «Italian for Beginners» does just that, focusing our attention on some lonely Danish singles who find not only refuge but togetherness in their attraction to all things Italian. The great accomplishment of the film's director, Lone Scherfig, is her ability to transfer very specifically Danish cultural aspects to a broader audience. Along the way you get both hilarious and touchingly sad moments and fine acting, all around. Merely to watch the talented Anders Berthelsen's facial expressions or Peter Gantzler's timing is worth the entire price of admission. An excellent film from Denmark.Movie Review: A Quirky and Charming Romance
Summary: 5 Stars
Initially put off by the incredibly amateurish camerawork, I soon warmed to this delightfully quirky movie. The story takes place mostly in Denmark, where a collection of troubled characters find their lives intertwined when they all sign up to take an Italian class in the hope of adding a little spice to their otherwise bleak existences.
The movie initially felt a bit like black comedy, but as the pieces began to fall together, it was impossible not to get involved in the story and feel some compassion for the characters. I found myself rooting for them in spite of, or perhaps because of, their eccentricities. A feel-good movie with an understated but hopeful ending.