Giorni

Plot/storyline have been much discussed in earlier reviews here. And, yes, this is a film about "living with Aids," how it can in some ways "robotize" one's behavior, cut one off and harden one in his/her interactions with others.....and Trabacchi (as Claudio) is excellent in showing us every facet of just such a "throwaway" man (for in the end he does just that). However, I am more interested in another of the players.........the one who shoves in our faces the purity and certainty of simple love: Salerno (as Andrea). He gives such a pure performance that we come face to face with a love so strong that it overpowers any thought of self-danger.......so strong that it overpowers wisdom and any sense of self-preservation.

Practically every other review and comment seems to focus on Trabacchi, yet never in memory have I encountered a male performer who can telegraph the emotion of love more intensely than Salerno; his eyes seem to be that proverbial door to the soul. Again, never have I seen pure love transmitted more powerfully than through this man's eyes and facial expressions (would that many of us ever have been able to have had a love such as his). What he is feeling is projected so strongly that your need is to reach through the screen, grab, and tightly hold him.

I guess I will never be able to understand Italian directors, producers and viewers......for Salerno's film work after this production seems to be nonexistent. How can that be? Yet Trabacchi's follow-on films are numerous, and while his performance is excellent, he displays nowhere near the emotional power radiated by Salerno (should someone admit to a "crush" in here, somewhere?).

So, if you want to see a film about a man none will consider smart, yet a man who would give you unflinching love that you would never doubt, then see "Days." And see the love that Claudio handled disastrously............how would you?

"Giorni" presents an intriguing premise in that it takes the side of a patient infected with the HIV virus that encounters love and a kind of happiness with another person that is afflicted with it. While some comments in this forum express opinions about how depressing the whole thing is, we hate to differ. There are indications that Claudio, who loved Andrea, finds himself at the end in a positive way and that he is changed for the best.

This Italian film, directed by Laura Muscardin, presents a sobering aspect of people living with the virus. In fact, we would even go to the extent to say it's a frank and sincere effort about people that live with HIV. These individuals suddenly see how slim their chances are to lead a somewhat normal life in a loving relationship.

Claudio's relationship with Dario is a thing of the past, as the movie starts. He is seen taking the cocktail of medicines that are keeping him alive. When the sincere Andrea appears in the picture, Claudio is taken aback by the way he feels about this stranger that genuinely cares for him. Claudio, in fact, while loving Andrea, is surprised by the way the other man has transformed him for the best.

The performance of Riccardo Salerno, who plays Andrea, is in sharp contrast with the intensity Thomas Trabacchi's Claudio. Both these actors make a pair of credible lovers who, although doomed from the start, still take a chance by loving one another. The Andrea of Mr. Salerno speaks volumes, as he convinces the viewer about his love for Claudio. Mr. Salerno's take on his character endears himself to us because one realizes he is the real thing. Mr. Trabacchi has more opportunities to shine, yet, it's the kind Andrea who stays in one's mind.

The film is a serious attempt by the director, Laura Muscardin, to inject intelligence into the relationship between Claudio and Andrea.

"Days" ("Giorni") takes on interesting subject matter, but misses the mark. This tale of an HIV+ gay man named Claudio who rebels against the regiment that he's surrounded with (bank job, long-time lover, family, HIV medications, safe sex) would be more impactful if the lead character were less closed up. But the biggest problem is the character of the young man - Andrea - our anti-hero has a passionate affair with.

Andrea exists less as a three-dimensional person than as some kind of romantic fantasy figure who passionately falls in love with Claudio in a remarkably short amount of time (i.e. one trick and a quick meeting at a restaurant). Andrea also has no qualms about having unprotected sex with Claudio. We never find out why he's so in love with Claudio (who never seems particularly charismatic) and why he would risk his health and life to have unprotected sex.

While Claudio gets lectured by a few other characters for his reckless behavior, the film has an opportunity to get underneath the frustration of people with HIV and what they have to deal with daily, even though Claudio never seems to be suffering from his multiple medications too much.

Unfortunately, the film is more interested in presenting bareback sex and HIV as the ingredients in some romantic tragedy. Claudio's and Andrea's fate is such that you have to wonder if the filmmaker - a woman - isn't trying to put as depressing a face on gay male life as she can - that HIV infection is inevitable, so you might as well just get it over with. On some level, I find this film quite stupid and irresponsible, though I'm sure the director and the film's defenders would call it "challenging." Nonsense.

Many talk about how much more sophisticated Europeans are about homosexuality, but I sure haven't seen that in the films about gay life that come from that part of the world. In some ways, they're more backward than what we see here.

I agree with who found this to be a true to life representation about living and loving with HIV/AIDS. I have seen no other film to date in which the day to day struggles of maintaining an HIV positive individual's health, adhering to a burdensome medical regiment and the various psychological battles involved in doing so is as well expressed. Claudio's hope for and despair of finding understanding and love, and his many unexpected losses and rewards are portrayed with the empathy of someone who has obviously seen the battle up close. It is a very interesting movie and it contains truths that anyone who has made this journey, either with loved ones or themselves, will surely recognize and appreciate.

I saw it dubbed and poorly at that. Perhaps seeing it with subtitles would change my impression. Unlike the previous viewer I find it hard to accept that Italians are that different. The motivations don't add up, the characters don't seem believable.

There are some touching moments but it was hard to care anything about anyone in the film. It is always a pleasure seeing a movie with gay characters where the fact that they are gay is a given. And seeing gay life reflected in film always add points for me.

But it is not anywhere near enough. It is hard to say much more about the movie without giving it away. The struggle that Claudio has with his HIV status is clearly one that must challenge anyone who is positive. Its just so unlikely that someone who is portrayed as rigidly as he is would take the actions he does.