Disputa Entre Irmãos

Saw this film twice at Worldfest, Houston's film festival celebrating 37 years of independent film. It was magical! Had the distinct pleasure of meeting the director, Jan Sardi, and hearing "the inside scoop" of trials to get the film made. It was well worth the wait and effort! Sardi prefaced the screening with something like "there's no sex, drugs, violence, car chases, or profanity in the film...but I hope you'll like it." It's near perfect in my book and I hope it finds a U.S. distributor soon! Sardi's writing and direction is superb, and the casting couldn't be better (Adam Garcia and Amelia Warner are stunning, and Giovanni Ribisi is at his quirky best). Stephen Warbeck's (Oscar winner for Shakespeare in Love) score transports the viewer to Northern Italy and Andrew Lesnie (LOTR Oscar winner) showcases the sun-drenched golden hills of Italy and Oz's lush scenery as only he can.

BTW, the film won Best Feature, Best Director, and Best Cinematography at the festival. A must-see...a gentle film for the entire family with enough magic to make you want to see it again and again!

I saw this movie at Cinema Paris at Fox Studios when I was in Sydney, Australia. Although the story has been done several times before, it is set amid a community of Italian immigrants in 1950's Australia, which makes it really unique.

Giovanni Ribisi (Angelo) is the only actor I was familiar with before this movie, but I have to say Adam Garcia (Gino) and Amelia Warner (Rosetta) steal the show. And they are both DROP DEAD gorgeous! Performance wise, I liked Sylvia de Santis (Connie) the best!

I loved how the characters evolve during the movie. Angelo seems to be weak and troubled emotionally, but turns out to be surprisingly robust. On the other hand, Gino, the more self-assured brother turns out to be quite vulnerable emotionally.

The music from Stephen Warbeck is wonderful. I especially liked the background music when Rosetta first sees the mural of Italy in the cafe. Andrew Lesnie's cinematography captures the beauty of both Italy and the Australian wilderness. And if these are the types of movies Jan Sardi continues to make, I want to see more.

You have to be a curmudgeon not to like this movie - it is so gentle and warm-hearted.

There's a first time for everything, including directing a movie, and accomplished Australian scriptwriter (`Shine') Jan Sardi has not disgraced himself here. The plotline is corny (wrong brother's photo sent in marriage broking operation) and the approach stickily sentimental but things are saved by some good casting, quality acting and fine cinematography.

As Angelo, the shyer brother who is looking for a bride from Italy, Giovanni Ribisi (last seen as the doltish husband in `Lost in Translation') combines the intensity of B A Santamaria with a remarkable amount of diffidence. Adam Garcia, hitherto mainly a song and dance man, plays the less screwed up younger brother Gino with abundant artless charm, and they combine very well to give us a picture of two very different but very devoted people. Rosetta the mail order bride, (Amelia Warner) is very beautiful and doesn't say a great deal which adds to her charm of course. There are also some strong performances from supporting players. Silvia de Santis, hair dyed blonde, is very effective as Gino's girlfriend Connie, and John Bluthal does an Italian version of his loveable old man persona. Eleanor Bron has a brief role as the marriage broker – no more improbable than an Italian siren from Liverpool (where Amelia Warner hails from). It was also worth the price of admission to see Barry Otto as a Catholic Priest blessing a newly installed espresso machine.

Andrew Lesnie, responsible for the cinematography in the Lord of the Rings series, gives us one or two unusual camera angles, but by and large keeps things very pretty. He apparently looked at `Il Postino' to get some pointers on how to shoot an `Italian' movie. (That film was actually directed by an Englishman, Michael Radford.) Daylesford, Victoria, and its surrounds are shown to their advantage, certainly more so than the Italian village used for Rosetta's home town. The Italians shown here who migrated to Australia are a jolly lot; most of them seem to think Australia is heaven compared to Italy. The film is set circa 1958 but even 40 years later it looks like they made the right decision. They certainly did wonders for Australian coffee drinking.

I personally thought this film was wonderful. For me it was pure enjoyment to watch it. I found it to be a fresh idea with very good young actors. I thought the interchange romance development was very interesting. Giving complexity to the film. Putting one in a different time, 1950's or place, Australia. Surrounded with such amicable characters and so human. The idea of preparing a book of their love while waiting to come to Australia seemed so romantic. Making this film probably more something a romantic person would like to see. There should be more pleasurable films like this one, because it still brings a smile to my face to think of it now. Which must be a good sign. If you like love-films, I can definitely recommend watching and enjoying this splendid film.

i quite please to see the actor in Boot men appear in this movie. hope he gonna become a good one soon.

the movie is nice. picture, light, music. i find it a bit harsh when reading someone say the dialogues are not good. i think it is really nice. what do we expect from a girl of country with little education? she has beautiful mind. that is more than enough.

the two brother relationship can be more deeper. but with the view of country, easy and peaceful, i do not think it necessary.

the story is good too. though i think a bit short and maybe go for an easy ending.

but overall this movie is worth seeing and bring me nice entertainment for the weekend.