Un coeur ailleurs

This ostensibly simple but ultimately haunting tale of a virginal teacher in search of a soul mate of proportions equal to the Latin and Greek verses he teaches captures the essence of selfless love, so very rare in male film protagonists since the invention of the Spaghetti Western (also Italian!).

Bookworm Neri Marcore is sent from Rome to Bologna by father Giancarlo Giannini (who's tailor to the Pope and well-versed extramaritally) to learn something about the opposite sex. And learn his son does when he meets the beautiful Vanessa Incontrada at a dance for the blind. But blindness turns out to be more than meets the eye when Vanessa's previous life catches up with them both.

Marcore's subtle performance is reminiscent of Chaplin at his most engaging and Olivier at his most nuanced, with Marcore's smile leaving an imprint long after the screen fades to black.

While this movie has some good moments, I found both the plot and the pace of the movie uneven to the point where I was not engaged in the movie for most of the time. The lead actor is talented, so talented and so convincing as the sweet, lonely, and socially awkward 35 year-old he plays - at points in the movie - you feel bored of him and tired of his introversion and immersion in ancient poetry. The leading lady, while beautiful, does not deliver a convincing performance. That role required an actor with a broader range and she falls flat. There are, however, scenes that made me laugh aloud and all of them featured the legendary Giancarlo Giannini.

There is a very excellent little cult movie cinema just near my house. I saw The Station Agent and A Heart Elsewhere (advertised name) tonight for $11Aus (bout $5US). The first was great, check it out, different style comedy. The second, A Heart Elsewhere, was a very interesting love tale.

The story is about Nelo; a 35year old virgin, intelligent and charming Italian. Nelo is sent to teach at and, more importantly, find a wife at a distant college. His father was scared of him becoming gay like his brother (Nelo's uncle). After a few failings he starts seeing an incredibly beautiful and blind women Angela.

The movie revolves around the emotions and the rationalising of the two leads. The 'easy', vengeful, slightly money hungry Angela, and the sensitive Nelo. Nelo is warned by by everyone he knows that Angela is a man eater. Indeed Angela's behaviour is sometimes questionable, but the motives remain unclear. A quote for an example shows 'Make sure they see us leave together. I want them to see us. Why is Angela acting this way? The movie draws you into the two characters and their world.

I saw this as a date movie with my girlfriend at the time. But it's not just a romance movie. It's an interesting look at a number of concepts. The idea of love in general, a broken person only able to find love in another broken person. The way in which blindness was treated. It wasn't a love story in the champagne and strawberries and heart warming sense. It was a true life story.

Also, the scenery of the movie was breath taking. Each room in the movie had these spectacular murals and the shear beauty of the movie 'scenes' was like watching a moving painting. Even Angela is referred to as a painting within the movie. A comment that is very fitting towards her beauty.

With all that in mind, it's not for everyone. If you generally like your blockbuster actions or your Bridgette Jones's romances, you may not like this. If you do like a little class, and a thoughtful, left of norm, tear jerker love story. This is it.

One note. White subtitles on white. One day they will stop this annoying habit, but not yet!

Overall: 6/10 for general audience. 9/10 for targeted audience.

in the 30s, a clumsy 35 years old professor of latin and humanities moves to Bologna, under the pressure of his parents (very important tailors in Rome, who work for the pope! they're disappointed by son's devotion to studies and unskillness with practical things) hoping he would eventually find a wife and settle family, giving them an heir to their fortune.

he is a very sensible and well-educated person, yet a kinda stranger in the real world. students are at first surprised by his manners, but then start to like him and his way of teaching, motivated from personal passion for classics.

his life changes when he meets a very exuberant pretty woman, who likes to enjoy life. What can make these two persons who are exactly the opposite one of the other close to each other? Actually she is blind and our guy the only one, with his sensibility, who can stand by her..but the thing is obstacled both from her parents (who thinks a school professor could not afford to give her the life standards she is used to) and his (who do not accept the fact she is blind). And she seems to be still in love wiht her previous boyfriend. will they finally come together?

a swiss doctor is trying hard new techniques to give her back the sight. Will she finally see again? in that case, what will change in their relationship, given the fact that was her blindness itself to make her notice him?

funny the first half, very touching the second part.

Pupi Avati has made a big job, and Marcorè is astonishly good in the role.

Basically it's the story of a man not joining the chorus, Nello, and of his impossible love for the woman of his dreams. Emotionally speaking he is a late teenager (35 years old), he never had a girlfriend and his father wants to find one for him. It could be a typical comedy setup, but Neri Marcorè gives out his best in his first _serious_ role. The consequence is a strange, a bit surreal, film.

IF you passed through love delusions or a terrible shyness during adolescence you'll love the movie. It has the power to make you remember those feelings, showing them as real as possible. Great acting from Neri and Giancarlo and from secondary characters, good job with casting! Simple but realistic setting and costumes make Il Cuore Altrove a snapshot of Italy of late twenties.

I propose this film to the fans of Punch-Drunk Love, it's another good example of how love can make impossible things happen.