Italian for Travelers

Italian For Travelers is a powerful, truly great thriller that kept me guessing from the beginning to the end. There are very few thriller films where you can't see what's coming at the end, and this is one of them. The film is expertly paced, building from a quiet, low key beginning to a sense of foreboding that leads to a devastating conclusion. Writer and director Von Kochar is great talent. The actors were all top notch too, especially Hannah Elder in the lead role. Cinematography, set design, art direction were all on target. And the clever use of Italian language translations interspersed throughout the film added to the tension. An impressive job all around.

There is a dazzling display of artistry and intelligence on display in Italian For Travelers. It's a thriller, but not in a pulpy way. I always say, there are movies and there are films. Star Wars is a great movie. Fellini's 8 1/2 is a great film. This story is much more of a film, and a terrific one at that. The plot is intriguing, but it's really the flow and style of the film that held me in it's grip. Though I can't effectively describe that style in a short review, I can make certain cinematic references that might bring those interested to some idea of this unique story. As I watched, I thought at times of Rossellini's Journey to Italy, in the way the film uses quietude and visuals as part of it's storytelling. Also, Last Year at Marienbad, in it's use of repetition. Perhaps a bit of Charlie Kaufman's Anamolisa, in the film's use of a psychological condition as a cinematic device. Those comparisons went through my mind, but the filmmaker here really creates a style all their own. It's absolutely worth a watch and will not disappoint those who want to see something truly interesting. Kudos to the director and cast.