A Vida Solitária de Antonio Ligabue

A moving, inspired film, a beautiful story of a tormented and unconventional life, a film made of small details, expressions, faces, landscapes, an acting performance that enters the history of cinema.

The story of the Italian province in the early twentieth century is very well done and the dialect of the people of the river Po is fascinating.

Even the supporting characters are very centered and credible, a film which in many aspects recalls the best tradition of neorealism.

The true beauty of cinema is this, knowing how to tell stories without bombastic scenes and special effects but with the strength and enigma of existence.

Rarely do you lose view of the fact that the people in movies are actors but here, I was sure at each and every moment that I was seeing the real artist with all the subtle and extraordianry naunces that belong to an individual. Elio Germano is superb as Antonio Ligabue, simply amazing. The cast is good but this is Elio Germano's movie, pure and simple.

Beautifully filmed, the story unfolds with Antonio's hideous and abusive childhood, his lack of love, nurturing and understanding and also lack of good nutrition, leaving him a somewhat weak and distorted figure of a man and ugly.

But the artist is brilliant and his heart is good.

Many visits to asylums and infirmaries, he is unique in his expression of 'jumping into the skin' of his painted subjects, needing to become the animals and subjects he paints or sculpts.

This is a brilliant portrayal. For artists, his work is simply stupendous, his use of technique fascinating.

This movie was a work of art in itself and I'm amazed it didn't capture wider attention.

Hidden Away (*Volevo nascondermi*) is a poignant and visually striking biopic that delves into the life of Antonio Ligabue, an eccentric and misunderstood figure in modern art. Directed by Giorgio Diritti, the film captures Ligabue's struggles with poverty, isolation, and his unrelenting passion for painting, offering a deeply empathetic perspective on the challenges of genius.

Elio Germano delivers a monumental performance as Ligabue, fully immersing himself in the role with an astounding level of physical and emotional commitment. His ability to convey the artist's torment, joy, and idiosyncrasies elevates the film into a deeply moving character study. Germano's portrayal is a masterclass in mimesis, blurring the lines between actor and subject in a way that feels almost otherworldly.

Diritti's direction stands out for its originality, with a poetic and often impressionistic approach that mirrors Ligabue's art. The cinematography beautifully captures the desolation of the Po floodplains, juxtaposing the harshness of Ligabue's surroundings with the vivid, otherworldly colors of his paintings. The script, while minimalistic, allows the visuals and Germano's performance to take center stage, creating an immersive and meditative experience.

Hidden Away is not just a biopic but a celebration of resilience and creativity in the face of adversity. It's a film that resonates deeply, offering a glimpse into the soul of an artist who found beauty in the margins of life.

8/10 - an original and profoundly moving tribute to the power of art and individuality.

As of when I write this review, the film has a 5.8 rating, totally unrealistic and unfairly low (I suppose it was mostly downvoted by people too used to commercial comedies or action films). A very unconventional biopic, it reminds me partly of At Ethernity's Gate, although it manages to be a thing of its own. Rather than presenting Antonio Ligabue's life (which actually it does in its completeness), it constructs the story around the character. The non-linearity thus is unconventional and very appealing. I already knew about Elio Germano's undisputed talent so his performance was expectedly outstanding, and I hope it will be further recognised outside the Berlin Film Festival. So far, this movie definitely deserves to be among the best of the year, and is proof that there's still fresh sap in international and italian cinema, despite the poor marketing that undermines such efforts (this film is almost virtually unknown. I had to travel 40 mins because my three local cinemas wouldn't screen it).

This biopic tells the dramatic life of the painter Antonio Ligabue with delicacy and participation, a story of suffering and loneliness well written and interpreted. The superb, unforgettable interpretation by Elio Germano is the best of his career. A Great film, absolutely to watch