Italian for Beginners
|
Our Price: $16.82 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.31 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Italian for Beginners
Movie Review: Touching and funny
Summary: 4 Stars
It's initially somewhat disconcerting to watch this movie, shot as a video rather than in traditional film format. But the script and the performances are so affecting and so honest that it quickly becomes entirely engrossing. A motley-seeming collection of average people: a raging restaurant keeper with a hidden talent for language, an accommodating hairdresser with a nightmare of a mother who just happens to be terminally ill, a klutzy, good-natured young bakery worker with a horrible father, a disaffected management type and a charming Italian waitress. They all find themselves at an evening class in Italian and they manage to make connections--with themselves and with the others in the class--in humorous and bittersweet ways.This is a very worthwhile film. Don't be put off by the oddness of the video. You'll forget about it soon enough and become entirely caught up in this wonderfully well-acted, truly touching and amusing film.
Highly recommended.
Movie Review: Ordinary People, Ordinary Lives
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a sweet, touching, comedic film...not what I would consider a comedy, but it does have many funny moments.ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS is the name of the foreign language class which is the thread that holds together the six somewhat lonely and wounded characters in this movie. Each one is trying to deal, with some modicum of dignity, with his or her life and the disappointments and troubles they encounter.
The movie deals with the characters' everyday conflicts and challenges - with little distraction for the audience (no sound track, minimal scenery, etc)except for the jerking of the hand-held camera. Gradually, unknown and unsuspected connections between the characters are cleverly revealed, as are the many layers of this story. I thought that the character development was very well done. Seeing how these people connect is heartwarming and leaves the viewer feeling as hopeful as the characters do.
Movie Review: Fabulous!
Summary: 4 Stars
A friend had been raving about this movie, so I finally saw it. It begins with the arrival of a temporary minister, then folds in the reception clerk at the hotel he is staying at, the clerk's best friend, the best friend's co-worker at a restaurant, a hairdresser, and a bakery clerk who all end up taking a beginners class on the Italian language. As their lives become entwined outside of the class, revelations about death, truth, relationships, and communication become apparent through very "normal" characters.I liked this movie because, while there were a few extreme situations, most of the conflicts that occur are everyday conflicts. The fact that connections through an Italian language class reveal so many different facets of life is refreshing. There is little to distract from the stories, no special effects, no music, no extravagant costumes, allowing the real story to emerge.
Movie Review: Splendid
Summary: 4 Stars
After reading some of these revives I doubted a bit about buying this movie...But to my luck I didnt hesitate and I can only say that I loved it, and one of the things I found really interesting and wonderful was that you feel like you are really watching other people, it has the touché of documentary and its all made in a way so its not this high glam, whom has the most money raceits honest and sweet, and down to earth.And I can only recommend it!!! Especially if you love movies, and maybe liked some of the other Danish productions like Festen.
Movie Review: Feels a little naive, but has lots of depth and charm
Summary: 4 Stars
I admit that the handheld video camera work put me off at first, as did the abrupt cuts. It felt like a student project or an experiment. But as I watched, all of that faded into the background, and the quiet charm took over. It's a very rough film in many ways - not polished at all - but it's also very honest and touching, and it makes a nice change of pace from so many typical American movies which are more sparkle and yet still very shallow.