L'amore giovane

I saw this film in Venice on Saturday 2 September. I absolutely loved it!

I haven't read the book , so cannot comment on how faithful the film is, however I really enjoyed it, and it was certainly the best I saw in Venice.

The story made me really emotional. I could see myself or my friends at 20 years old and recognised a lot of emotional patterns that are typical of growing up.

The actors are all amazing. The two main characters have got a freshness and grace about them that make them beautiful to watch. Laura Linney and Ethan Hawke play the parents wonderfully.

It is a very sexy and raw film, but delicate at the same time.

For anyone who has ever fallen in love and had his heart broken for the very first time. It made me cry a lot and I thank Ethan Hawke for it!

I could not get into the story at all, and cannot identify with the characters. Initially the film shows two people having sex all the time. Then the rest of the film is very dialog heavy, but they are ore drivels than actual conversations. I find the film very boring, even though it has Ethan Hawke, Laura Linney and Michelle Williams, all of whom I like very much.

I saw this film at the LA Film Festival and found it to be a boring talk-fest between two largely unsympathetic, unconvincing characters. If Hawke was trying to channel Linkletter's Before Sunrise/Sunset, he should have also created characters whose motivations and reactions are at least somewhat plausible, even if they happen to be 20 year olds. On the other hand, the character portrayed by Laura Linney (the mother of male lead) is refreshing in her contribution of realism to the story. Otherwise, if you like lots of self-involved rambling about nothing much, punctuated by music videos and a few moments of soft-core porn, this is your movie.

William Harding (Mark Webber) is a 20 year old struggling actor in NYC from Texas. He doesn't really know his dad Vincent (Ethan Hawke) after he left with his mother at 8. Sarah (Catalina Sandino Moreno) wants to be a singer. They hit it off right away. Samantha (Michelle Williams) is his ex who he is still hanging with. He has issues. Her mother (Sonia Braga) doesn't approve of her singing and complains a lot. His mother Jesse (Laura Linney) is also quite a piece of work.

It's an indie from Ethan Hawke. It's a fairly bland affair. The lead Webber doesn't have the best charisma. His character is emotionally damaged. Moreno has a sweet presence but she struggles to do more. They both have infuriating moments that makes it hard to invest in their relationship. There is a musical element but there isn't anything catchy. There's no magic in that. It's an angsty indie without the needed likability. The dialog is very clunky with Hawke trying too hard. Being an Ethan Hawke film, there are a lot of great actors. I guess people just want to hang out with him.

Fabulous movie. The dichotomy of the two characters' personalities is simply amazing. Throughout every emotion, scene, and heartache, you feel what the characters are feeling, want what they want, see what they see. The buildup to the climax of their love in Mexico is astounding and perfectly written. This is easily a cult classic, for any indie film lover. The week in Mexico just makes you want to fall in love if only for a week. I love the innocence, yet ambiguity of Sarah's character. Is she real or not?? The lead actor are PERFECT for their respective roles. This film has amazing street credibility. The only downside to this movie is that the role of Williams parents is minimalist, confusing, and rather pointless. This storyline just did not amalgamate well with the film.