A Beautiful Imperfection

What has the biggest impact on our development and the life path? Are villains or heroes born or made? Is it nature or nurture?

Perhaps it's bit of both and the path to unlocking this aspect might come through empathy. The more we learn the background of the person the more we start to understand their life choices, as only ignorant, unintelligent people are quick to judgment.

And what if we try to explain what events shaped arguably one of the greatest lovers in history Giacomo Casanova? What woman hurt him so bad that he has spend his whole life trying to seduce as many ladies he came across, treating them as objects of conquest and desire, without getting emotionally attached.

'A Beautiful Imperfection' (Een Schitterend Gebrek) is a second English speaking movie of Dutch director Michiel van Erp based on a book 'In Lucia's Eyes' by Arthur Japin adapted for a screen by Ursula Rani Sarma. As title of the book suggests in van Erp's film Casanova isn't the protagonist and rather it is his early love interest peasant girl highly intelligent Lucia story.

"Based on a true story, 'A Beautiful Imperfection' tells the empowering tale of Lucia, Giacomo Casanova's first and greatest love, who leaves Italy for Amsterdam, after her face has been disfigured by smallpox. Sixteen years later, when she has reinvented herself as a veiled courtesan known by the name of Galathée, they meet again. Without revealing her true identity and face, Lucia and Giacomo become lovers once more."

First the positives. The production, costume and set design is truly wonderfully accomplished.

There is great attention to detail, which brings believability to this period piece. Shot on historic locations the blocking (movement of actors and extras versus the camera angle) is done in very smart way to emphasize the parts of the location production had access to. The lighting has taken note from Stanley Kubrick 'Barry Lyndon'as all locations seems to use candle light, as a light source, presumably putting stain on the budget, as fire brigades always have to overview film locations for safety reasons and specially if the locations the movie is shot are of a historical value.

As often Dutch directors have problem with showcasing intimacy Erp and his female Director of Photography Myrthe Mosterman are able to capture sensuality and sometimes nudity that is depicted in very intimate way leaving plenty to imagination and yet show just enough to arouse our intimate interest.

With movies of this type the musical score becomes the emotional heart beat of the movie and sadly I feel despite of classical compositions this aspect isn't fully utilized to gain a full emotional impact on the viewer. The score is solid, but more attention could have been put in to choosing thematic melodic elements, which would trigger emotional memory of the audience maximizing on what is happening onscreen.

And now towards the performances.

Israeli actress Dar Zuzovsky delivers very believable characterization and considering her character arc spanning 16 years she did very well indeed to showcase the emotional and physical changes to her character. From intelligent peasant girl, to mysterious courtesan, her journey of empowerment in society that tried to oppress woman during that time is well accomplished.

Sadly the key character of Casanova played by British actor Jonah Hauer-King feels like the weakest aspect of this film. Now we can presume considering the fact that it is not his story but Lucia's, making him too charismatic would diminish somewhat audiences interest in character arc of Lucia, however we want to truly believe that this couple has so much onscreen chemistry, which sometimes doesn't fully work. And it isn't about if he is a good looking individual as man, as male attractiveness is more measured by their charisma and their confidence. Hauer-King's depiction of Casanova is rather forgettable and uninspired.

And Casanova's and Lucia chemistry needs to carry the emotional heart beat of the story for the audience to fully feel immersed in the romantic relationship of both lovers.

Despite of that aspect 'A Beautiful Imperfection' is a very solid attempt on romantic period drama, which might enjoy some success beyond Dutch or Benelux borders. Director Michiel van Erp using everything in his power accomplished what many Dutch filmmakers struggle with and that is crafted a movie, which showcases aspect of intimacy and sensuality, which often in The Netherlands gets lost under blankets of too graphic raw nudity.

Recommend!

I've liked Jonah Hauer-King work in the past and I love period dramas so I thought the movie was gonna right up my alley. While I think Jonah is a a great actor, he was awfully miscast as Casanova, it was like watching a Golden Retriever trying to be flirty.

The pacing was off for IMHO, and the while the costumes was decent assuming they didn't have a big budget, the wigs were awful.

I wasn't particularly a fan of the ending, but I guess that's because it's faithful to the real history

I really enjoyed the girl that played Lucia, it was awesome watching her progression into a courtesan, I believed every second of it and I wish to see her in more film or shows.

Gave it two stars for the beautiful costumes and locations, but as a whole the movie was very disappointing. As a Dutchman I'm used to never watch Dutch movies because they're usually crap. I had better expectations this time because Michiel van Erp usually makes good (television) productions.

To sum things up:

• The dialogues are not convincing, it sounds more like stage actors reading lines
• Little / no chemistry between the actors
• Plot line so thin it's embarrassing
• Story doesn't 'unfold', it's just the same thing repeating itself over and over.

• Historical inaccuracy: it's the 18th century and some things just don't make sense, the way people behave and talk to each other, etc.

I'm guessing they went for English instead of Dutch to try to get a bigger audience, which is OK, but the overall feeling I get is it is 'too Dutch'. Dutch movies aren't usually very good, I never understand why, probably because there's just a very small audience for them, and that audience isn't really very critical. The result is that Dutch producers are used to always getting 'wonderful' reviews for things that are totally crap.

In the end watching it became agonizing, my friend and I were almost desperate at the end of the 1:50 hrs. As nothing seemed to unfold in the movie. I snoozed off a couple of times and don't seem to really have missed anything.