AUTHENTIC CHRONICLE OF A FATEFUL LOVE AFFAIR OF YESTERDAY IN THE PRESENT TIME
Italy doesn't currently stand out on the global independent scene (much less the LGBT+ scene), and that's a shame, since, along with the French, they were the pioneers of independent cinema. They have a rich and abundant history of works, many of which are cult titles around the world. But here we have perhaps a future cult work. I hope I'm not mistaken.
We have a film based on real events, about a love affair that began in the last century, in the early 1980s, where its characters wander through a town in southern Italy (which still stands out for its prominent conservatism today), going back and forth between circumstances that anyone could easily identify with. The plot itself, while widely touched upon in independent cinema (and practically a standard) with thousands of films that have already addressed this subject of first love, here the optics and perspective are totally different from other films with similar plots.
There are no stereotypes here. And if there are any, they are minimal and necessary for the work. The director (as far as I know, this is his debut film) was quite emphatic in showing us the somewhat atypical perspective of the characters, never overstepping or focusing on those who, narrowly, attack, and this is so evident even in the most tense scenes. This treatment is subtle, as if this film were a powerful denunciation of the hypocrisy of Italian society at that time (and which still persists in various places in Italy) and, why not, in Europe and the world. A kind of protest film, albeit sweetly crafted so that the casual viewer wouldn't be scared or bored, although its pace is somewhat slow, it was necessary because the director wanted to take the time to show, with the patience of a monk, the daily lives of his protagonists. This was so evident at the end. It seems you have to guess what happened or assume it. Or better yet, investigate the real case on which the film was based (interestingly, its director is originally from Sicily, where the events actually occurred).
The performances were sublime. From what I could see, the actors are natural. This gives it a unique and unrepeatable tone of spontaneity. This, combined with the excellent production, direction, and stunning photography (as if a nod to the Argentine scene, so distinctive for its rich photography), makes this film a modern gem, which hopefully will elevate Italian cinema to the status it once held. There are examples.
Perhaps if this film were made during the same time as the legendary and controversial Pier Paulo Pasolini, the consequences would be similar to those of the director of this film. Perhaps with that precedent, he shows off a delicate and well-crafted film to, as I already mentioned, make a subtle but powerful protest against this hypocritical society that condemns plausible things but ignores more worrying facts.
If you're looking for a very interesting film to watch, for a truly memorable weekend... you might even weep your eyes until you get there, this will be the film for you.
The title of my review was taken from the song "Demasiado Corazón" by Willie Colón.
