Canone effimero (Ephemeral Canon), directed by Massimiliano and Gianluca De Serio, offers a segmented journey into the heart of rural Italian singing traditions gathered for Marche, Basilicata, Liguria, Sicilia. The film, presented in the Forum section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, gathers around traditional activities - the making of wood coal, donkey riding - and local festivities. One such festivity, possibly Epiphany or Easter (the specific religious context was missed by the Reviewer), features a striking spectacle: half-human-sized dolls, stuffed with fireworks, are set in motion, spinning rapidly before the fireworks ignite, dramatically destroying the dolls, often decapitating them in the process. These scenes, while visually arresting, contribute to the film's overall sense of ritual and tradition. The authenticity of the depicted traditions is undeniable - too weird to be made up.
One of the film's most notable, and perhaps unintentionally humorous, achievements is the elevation of YouTube reaction videos to a large-screen cinematic experience. Watching these gentlemen watch videos of traditional activities on a smartphone, identifying relatives, and recounting their passing, adds a layer of unexpected intimacy and even a touch of melancholy. It's a fascinating glimpse into how these communities connect with their past, even if through the mediated lens of online video.
The visuals are often pretty, if occasionally bordering on the affected, with elements that strive for metaphor, such as snow inexplicably flying upwards (achieved through reverse playback). While visually and aurally pleasing, the film rarely transcends the level of ethnographic documentation with the complexities of cultural preservation of doomed traditions. Canone effimero provides a soothing, if somewhat superficial, glimpse into a disappearing world, leaving the viewer with a sense of gentle nostalgia.
The film's atmosphere is undeniably charming and calming, bordering on somniferous, as evidenced by the significant portion of the audience soundly succumbing to its gentle rhythm.
