Le Premier roi

This film isn't as striking as Revenant or as thematically deep as Valhalla Rising, but it sure gets close.

I didn't choose to mention those two titles casually. Il Primo Re uses a similar range of storytelling devices: minimal dialogues, stunning visuals, a very realistic environment, metaphysical experiences. This provides the film a very immersive style, that can be perceived probably a bit slow, but that also elevates the release's quality.

The interesting part is that Il Primo Re reinterprets a well-known myth but stays faithful to its roots, and merges is with realistic historical settings. The villages, armaments, religions depicted mostly are very close to those that could've been during the pre-roman period.Obviously Il Primo Re mustn't be considered a historically accurate film, but it certainly gives the feel of that archaic period.

What I particularly appreciated was the choice of using latin as language. It is not the first time this happens, an example is Mel Gibson's The Passion, but in The Passion the pronunciation that was used was the scolastic one, which was developed in the middle ages (and I personally know that from my high-school studies of the language). In Il Primo Re they managed to use the original pronunciation of latin, and I believe probably they adopted an archaic vocabulary and sintax, which is admirable.

Criticisms can be drawn: the final climax is not that huge as the build up suggests (let's not forget italian films have a much more limited budget), it doesn't manage to be as thematically deep as the films I've mentioned earlier and sometimes it drastically shifts to being an action movie. I personally acknowledge these negatives, but still feel that the positive aspects outweight the negative ones. This film is so far unique in italian cinema, it definitely attempts at being something new, and therefore I think it deserves consideration

My review is influenced partially because I haven't watched a European movie for several years and it was refreshing to revisit. This movie is certainly not suitable for younger people or anyone who dislikes realistic violence. I usually shy away from violent movies, especially where the violence serves no purpose.

What stands out about this movie is that it feels realistic. Most of Hollywood has drastically shifted into a synthetic reality that is more like a day-time soap opera, but has added plenty of violence. and SFX. By contrast, this movie had characters exhaling misty breath in freezing cold rain, inside a cage made of rough bits of timer. You really felt as if you were watching the real thing at times, or a very detailed documentary. The characters also behaved realistically, something Hollywood has lost the ability to reflect.

The costumes (despite criticism from another reviewer) were probably realistic for 750BC as the characters were mostly slaves that were imprisoned in the quieter parts of what is now known as Italy. Many characters had beards because they didn't have access to Schick shavers. However, the actors probably lacked muscle and leanness that the actual inhabitants would have had. By contrast, the social elite in 750BC would have dressed immaculately.

The fight scenes were very well performed. Far less cut-scenes than you usually see today in Hollywood and far more awareness of exactly what is going on around the violence. However, at times I felt the violence was too much and wasn't adding value to the story.

In case you're wondering, even the ancient Romans were unsure of how accurate the stories of Romulus and Remus were. Today, we talk of what being a "good citizen" (especially promoted by the United Nations). The Romans had the concept of a "good Roman", so, in all probability, the current story of Romulus and Remus was popularised through a "good Roman" filter.

If you're in the mood for a thoughtful, violent, somewhat historically accurate film about the establishment of a world-class Empire, this is absolutely worth watching. It's in Latin, so, you'll have to read subtitles. The violence is very graphic, probably on par with the original Robo Cop movie, although, more realistic. Just think of watching a great BBC documentary with no voice-over and with a lot of graphic violence.

With little expositional dialogue, this movie kept me guessing. I knew the myth of the founding of Rome, but this movie shows the brutal life of those living in the time. Very well framed and filmed.

As an Italian I'm always a little bit prejudice with italian movies. But. This one is pretty great. Certainly worth to be watched, even twice maybe. IMO a little bit too dramatical in certain detail, actors' expressions or too long on certain detailed shots. But a part from this little and forgettable stuffs, it is a great movie, with a great plot, great and well played characters. Again: worth to be watched.

As italian, but most of all as moviegoer, I was waiting for a production like this in Italy for a long time. They strictly made their point, I was totally immersed in the movie's atmosphere made by natural light of photography. Matteo Rovere did a very great job with cinematography to make it as realistic as possible.