Il sole anche di notte

This is a beautiful, profound movie. It is based on a novel by Dostoievsky, which ads an existential dimension to the craft of the Taviani brothers.

The struggle of the lead character to extract himself from all human attachments is fascinating - and his ultimate failure should give some thoughts to a lot of self-proclaimed spiritual schools, from the Vatican to the Dalai Lama.

While this is a history piece, this movie retains the neo-realism style of some other works like "Padre, Padrone" mixed with a touch of surrealism as in "Kaos".

The Taviani brothers at their very best. One can only wish they had remained so inspired!

The Night Sun is the story of a proud, honest and sensitive man who struggles in the world some centuries ago. His writhings relate to the mismatch between the indifference of people to one another and his ideals of compassion and intimacy, between the world's requirement of submission and debasement and a pride which accepts no tyranny.

Sergio Giuramondo searches for meaning in isolation, but is only bored and obstreperous, the blithe landscape, perhaps as metaphysical as physical, re-echoes the monotone of indifference he has encountered elsewhere, rutting scarabs in the bright sunshine suggest soulless lust in a world without God. Neither is hope or meaning to be found in the exalted echelons of the nobility.

The movie seems ambivalent, has Giuramondo, a talented brilliant man been offered his fill of the cup of life, and dashed it to the floor, his own worst enemy, a man at war with himself, or does he find contentment and meaning, and a route to a life beyond this veil, a white chalk path out of the green hills of life's wilderness.

In either case, the Tavianis created here a movie that lingers, a baffling pageant interspersed with longueurs, as it their wont and stamp.

Beautiful, spiritual and thought provoking film about a heart-broken man who decides to seclude himself in a mountain. I consider it the best by the directors. It might make you think of how the "miracle" is conceived in our mind from witnessing a super-human power of will, and how the legend of a saint may arise.

This was a good film and I enjoyed watching it. However, I also understand that while I could sit through the film, many others would be bored by both its slow pacing and the lack of emotional range from the characters. Julian Sands portrays this emotionally limited man and he seemed to do a good job with it--but people wanting action and excitement in their films will probably have a hard time sticking with the film.

So on the plus side were the acting, cinematography and musical score. One the negative side was the ambiguous plot. The exact motivations for Sands' character and the point the author (Tolstoy) is trying to make seem a little vague.

Overall, a decent film and worth seeing, though there are of course some better Italian films.

PS--in the original Tolstoy version, does it REALLY take place in Italy or was the setting Russia? I am curious to know.

As I have tried to express my deep love for Taviani films before, I will not start that again. But boy is this film a marvel !!

Overwhelming photography, getting wider and wider where the protagonist tries to get further away from each and everyone. To find the temptation which will finally get him down from his pedestal (= his pride) in the renovated shack that was once his hermit cell.

The story is gripping and a true marvel, the pace elaborate (NOT slow, definitely not slow !!) and thoughtful.

And the actors ! What performances !! Where to start ? With Julian Sands of course, who is glorious even when he is not allowed to use his own voice. And the women in his life !! Just like that other bearded miracle worker, Father Sergio has 4. A mother and 3 ladies. (but then I'd forget his sister, and that would be very ungrateful...) Superb performances by all of them, and each and every other cast member.

Let's pray for another miracle: Let's sincerely hope Maestro Paolo and Maestro Vittorio make some dozen more of their sublime storytelling films...