RESPIRO
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ** 1/2
RESPIRO is a slightly quirky tale that is a small slice of fi****ng village
life. Set on Lampedusa, a remote island off the coast of Sicily, the
story
concerns a free-spirited mother named Grazia (Valeria Golino). Grazia, to
the consternation of her children, Pasquale (Francesco Casisa), Marinella
(Veronica D'Agostino) and Filippo (Filippo Pucillo), lives her life just
slightly out of the village norm. She sees nothing wrong with swimming
topless on secluded beaches and asking strangers to take her sailing. She
may or may not be slightly crazy.
The movie does a masterful job of creating a real sense of place. The
boys
wear shorts and rarely anything else, and the women wear thin, flowery
dresses that blow in the wind. The sun-drenched terrain is filled with
rocks and caves and surrounded by deep blue water. It's easy to trans****t
yourself mentally to be there with them. Early on, Grazia plays a
hauntingly beautiful song that has the effect of a mermaid calling to you,
beckoning you to stay and join her.
The story itself is never as effective as its mood. A group of slightly
older boys keep attacking Pasquale, Filippo and their friends, pulling off
all of their clothes when they are caught. Grazia has a propensity for
doing slightly out of the ordinary acts that irk some of the townsfolk.
The
movie's last act is the strangest of all, but it would be hard to describe
it without giving away its small surprise. RESPIRO is a mood piece that
never quite manages to rise above being just a mood piece.
RESPIRO runs 1:30. The film is in Italian with English subtitles. It is
rated PG-13 for "****ity and thematic elements" and would be acceptable for
teenagers.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, June 6, 2003.
In
the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the Camera Cinemas.
Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com
Email: Steve.Rhodes@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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