Lamerica
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Movie Reviews of Lamerica
Movie Review: A Journey into our Common Humanity
Summary: 5 Stars
"Lamerica" was directed by Gianni Amelio. He has more recent films which are not yet on DVD, such as "The Keys to the House" and "Stolen Children". His style has been compared to neo-realism, but he is very attentive and creative as he films, so he goes well outside the bounds of any conventional expectations. He avoids technical displays and edits including only elements that speed you on in the story.
Lamerica is about the inescapable inherent rules of humanity, in which we are connected to each other by iron bonds of compassion.
The story is about a journey into the interior and out again of Albania at a time of chaos, A young Italian, in training to be a crooked business man, finds himself deeper and deeper in trouble in a world he can't understand and deal with. He is seeking a retarded man who was selected to be the Albanian front man for their scam. As he goes forward he resists all human impulses of connectedness and compassion..and half the suspense is to see if he finally understands the hell he has made for himself and will then attain some measure of redemption. The other main character, the would-be front man, acted by a retired fisherman, whom the director met by chance, who gives an extraordinary performance, well beyond anything Tom Hanks did to get one of his Oscars.
In reality the director is addressing us, the prosperous developed world. It also shows that political insanity breeds unnecessary extreme poverty.
This film is made of many small details, which paint a picture of the human ability to survive, even to the point of breaking most contact with reality. There is a fantastic dance scene with a little girl, for example, imitating what she has seen on Italian TV.. And it warns us, if an Albanian translator is not going to go with you to the Ministry, you better turn around and run for your life. One of the last images is a trick performed by a beggar boy who actually has two normal legs..then you think back to the beginning and the translator, who splits because he knows something or worse has turned you in, and you realize these are no fools.
Movie Review: Been There
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always been facinated with the country of Albania. When I was growing up, it was a sort of secret closed society under the tight control of its' Stalinist dictator Hoxha. Very little news ever seeped out during the 60's and 70's or years before or after. It's one thing for a Asian country like North Korea or a South American country like Paraguay to hide from the rest of the world but Albania is a European country. Around 1990 or so, Albania's totalitarian government fell apart and a reign of anarchy seemed to emerge. Stories of an economy built on Ponzi schemes just added to the mistique of that alien country. It is into that period that "Lamerica" takes us.
We begin by following the escapades of two hot shot Italian schemers as they set out to make a few dishonest lyre. For awhile, I had no real idea as to where this movie was going but I kept following along until I realized that I had been drawn into the chaos. The last third or fourth of the movie was a near-mesmerizing experience. I came away moved by the sense that I had at least an uncomfortable concept of what helplessness felt like. It was only as I sat watching the closing cast and credits that I realized just how powerful a movie "Lamerica" is.
"Lamerica" is not an action film nor even a standard drama. It is, however, an experience.
Movie Review: A touching and thought provoking film
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this movie. I saw it the first time while in college and walked away feeling very moved. I recently purchased it and even after a few years it is just as good as seeing it the first time.
Gianni Amelio has done a fantastic job in combining history and prejudices to weave a very interesting film. This movie was great and is thought provoking on many levels. An eye-opener in many ways, I'd suspect that many people did not know about Albania or the Communist rule that existed there for so long. Nor would they have suspected that Albania was made up largely of poor people that were repressed for years by their government. But having access to Italian TV and seeing all those wonderful images on their televisions must have been a tease knowing that Italy was a short trip across the Adriatic; it might as well have been the other side of the moon thanks to Communist rule. The relationship that develops between the young Gino and the "young" Michele is an interesting dynamic all it's own. The younger Italian looks at Albanians as a group of misfits and seeing him slowly change his perspective is a lesson all by itself in how we perceive other cultures. Of course the tragic story of Michele and his journey to "America".
I'd highly recommend this movie and hope you too.
Movie Review: great film!
Summary: 5 Stars
It's been more than ten years, since I last saw this movie, L'AMERICA. I can still remember, quite vividly, just how powerful the imagery was and what a strong impression it left on me. Gino (Enrico Lo Verso) is one half of a two-person con man operation, in post World War II Albania. He sets out, as an Italian con artist, to offer jobs and opportunities for business to unsuspecting pawns. One of the first victims that he lures is the senile Spiro (Carmelo Di Mazzarelli), who still is under the impression that he is twenty years old, fifty years later, as a seventy year old man. Gino really thinks he has it made, until Spiro mysteriously wanders away, one day.
This film is visually stunning, the acting is powerful and the message is poignant and dark. There are points where the film style almost appears more like a documentary than a dramatic work of fiction. I can't believe more people haven't seen this. It's definitely underrated and compelling gem.
Movie Review: A brilliant and moving film, combining heart and ideas
Summary: 5 Stars
In some ways this resembles a more sophisticated, complex, political
re-telling of Amelio's great modern neo-realist classic 'Stolen Children'.
In this case two Italians go to just post communist Albania to try and
make a killing setting up an exploitative factory, taking advantage of
the desperately poor local workers. They hire a half- crazed old man to
be the necessary local figurehead. (The local is amazingly played by a
non- actor.)
Then, of course, everything in their plan goes wrong.
Tremendously moving, with only brief whiffs of manipulation or easy
emotion. A portrait of colonialism and capitalism crashing into
communist bureaucracy, and leaving behind shattered souls.
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