(no subject)
Review I had a lot of really good feed back on this essay and I think it made over confident about it. I expected a better mark but in the end I wasn’t so deserving. I really liked this kind of writing and the “research” (sitting back watching a film) is my kind of homework! Although I felt I was giving too much of the movie away, I learned that that’s what reviews tend to do and that I needed to elaborate on a few more things.
With Bad Always Follows Good
By Chantal Brosseau
I would submit this review in The Globe and Mail - one of Canada's leading national papers. Thirty+ is the age interested in this papers news items and the film relates best with this same age group. Although the characters are not necessarily well-off, the film appeals to middle and upper middle class viewers nevertheless. As an alternative more artistic style, rather than a highly advertised Blockbuster movie Italian for Beginners appeals to a more highly educated, thus higher income bracket audience. Likely women would appreciate this highly emotional romance -even though men may enjoy this genre, social norms assume men prefer more action packed adventures or conspiracy theory stories.
Written and directed by Lorne Schelfig, Italian for Beginners is filmed under the strict guidelines of the dogma film movement. This makes it a fascinating motion picture that differs from the typical Hollywood movie because it lets true emotion and genuine acting do all the work. For those who do not know, a dogma film must follow constricting rules in order to fulfill its duties and be labeled as a dogma film. The main rules are that the movie must be filmed using a handheld camera and there can be no use special effects such as false lighting or extravagant make-up causing the viewer to "see" something that is not really there. This results in a different filming style that makes the viewing of the movie difficult to get used to, as it is so different from the typical big-budget-no-substance-movie-going experience many of us have become accustomed to. However, once viewers get past the different style and are able to enter the emotionally moving story, which these talented actors portray on screen, they are in for quite a treat and one this reviewer thoroughly enjoyed.
The story is a rather simple one. It follows the lives of seven people who are brought together by one common interest; learning the Italian language. These seven strangers become intertwined and connected through a series of both traumatic and uplifting events that occur throughout the movie. The story begins with a brief glance into the present lives of these seemingly dreary characters who all share the commonality of loneliness. Each one seems to be suffering from one life changing event after another and the viewer is left with feeling utter hopelessness for these unfortunate characters. Halvin (Lars Kaaland), the brutish and often comical restaurateur, is fired from the establishment he claims to have built from the ground up, and the person who dismisses him is best friend, Jorgen Mortenson (Peter Ganzler). Jorgen is a shy fellow, and having to fire his best friend tears him up inside. The hairdresser, Karen (Ann Elenare Stovelback), suffers from the loss of her mother. Olympia (Annette Stovelback), the clumsy baker, suffers from the loss of her extremely bitter father. The priest, Andreas (Ander Berthelsen) is beginning a new position at a new church after recently losing his mistress and has a tough time adjusting and fitting in. Finally, there is the Italian waitress, Guilia played brilliantly by Sara Indrio Jensen, who is secretly in love with Jorgen but who is not aware that he feels the same way. She too has left her job and is suffering from loneliness. All of these characters seem to be draped in failure and loneliness, and they are all brought together by this somewhat pathetic excuse for a night class. However, just when the audience believes there is no hope for any of them, sparks of romance and traces of hope begin to appear. What happens from there can only be described as magical. The fortune of these downtrodden people are reversed and through the power of love, companionship and friendship, each one of these characters lives are transformed and you begin to see a whole new beginning forming for all of them.
Italian for Beginners is not your typical romantic comedy. Because of the filming style, all of this pictures incredible emotion as well as the dramatic and heart warming story must be portrayed completely by the actors and in this case every single one comes through. Viewers are left with a sense of hope and might find themselves reflecting on their own lives, as no matter how bad things are they will always get better. The film's setting, although simple, allows the viewer to relate to the characters as they are all places we find ourselves each day. Then, as the film is climbing to its climax, the setting changes to beautiful Venice where each character begins their life-altering experiences. This is quite a powerful move by the director, and it really works well to emphasize the importance of the changes to the characters.
This movie is well written, well acted, and has an uplifting story. It is a welcome break from the Hollywood glitter that has removed all the talent needed to tell a good story and reduced it to a sequence of special effects. Italian for Beginners does not rely on any tricks, it relies solely on a wonderful story and talented actors, and for me it was a welcome change. I highly recommend spending two hours of your valuable time to watch this movie. You will not be disappointed.
With Bad Always Follows Good
By Chantal Brosseau
I would submit this review in The Globe and Mail - one of Canada's leading national papers. Thirty+ is the age interested in this papers news items and the film relates best with this same age group. Although the characters are not necessarily well-off, the film appeals to middle and upper middle class viewers nevertheless. As an alternative more artistic style, rather than a highly advertised Blockbuster movie Italian for Beginners appeals to a more highly educated, thus higher income bracket audience. Likely women would appreciate this highly emotional romance -even though men may enjoy this genre, social norms assume men prefer more action packed adventures or conspiracy theory stories.
Written and directed by Lorne Schelfig, Italian for Beginners is filmed under the strict guidelines of the dogma film movement. This makes it a fascinating motion picture that differs from the typical Hollywood movie because it lets true emotion and genuine acting do all the work. For those who do not know, a dogma film must follow constricting rules in order to fulfill its duties and be labeled as a dogma film. The main rules are that the movie must be filmed using a handheld camera and there can be no use special effects such as false lighting or extravagant make-up causing the viewer to "see" something that is not really there. This results in a different filming style that makes the viewing of the movie difficult to get used to, as it is so different from the typical big-budget-no-substance-movie-going experience many of us have become accustomed to. However, once viewers get past the different style and are able to enter the emotionally moving story, which these talented actors portray on screen, they are in for quite a treat and one this reviewer thoroughly enjoyed.
The story is a rather simple one. It follows the lives of seven people who are brought together by one common interest; learning the Italian language. These seven strangers become intertwined and connected through a series of both traumatic and uplifting events that occur throughout the movie. The story begins with a brief glance into the present lives of these seemingly dreary characters who all share the commonality of loneliness. Each one seems to be suffering from one life changing event after another and the viewer is left with feeling utter hopelessness for these unfortunate characters. Halvin (Lars Kaaland), the brutish and often comical restaurateur, is fired from the establishment he claims to have built from the ground up, and the person who dismisses him is best friend, Jorgen Mortenson (Peter Ganzler). Jorgen is a shy fellow, and having to fire his best friend tears him up inside. The hairdresser, Karen (Ann Elenare Stovelback), suffers from the loss of her mother. Olympia (Annette Stovelback), the clumsy baker, suffers from the loss of her extremely bitter father. The priest, Andreas (Ander Berthelsen) is beginning a new position at a new church after recently losing his mistress and has a tough time adjusting and fitting in. Finally, there is the Italian waitress, Guilia played brilliantly by Sara Indrio Jensen, who is secretly in love with Jorgen but who is not aware that he feels the same way. She too has left her job and is suffering from loneliness. All of these characters seem to be draped in failure and loneliness, and they are all brought together by this somewhat pathetic excuse for a night class. However, just when the audience believes there is no hope for any of them, sparks of romance and traces of hope begin to appear. What happens from there can only be described as magical. The fortune of these downtrodden people are reversed and through the power of love, companionship and friendship, each one of these characters lives are transformed and you begin to see a whole new beginning forming for all of them.
Italian for Beginners is not your typical romantic comedy. Because of the filming style, all of this pictures incredible emotion as well as the dramatic and heart warming story must be portrayed completely by the actors and in this case every single one comes through. Viewers are left with a sense of hope and might find themselves reflecting on their own lives, as no matter how bad things are they will always get better. The film's setting, although simple, allows the viewer to relate to the characters as they are all places we find ourselves each day. Then, as the film is climbing to its climax, the setting changes to beautiful Venice where each character begins their life-altering experiences. This is quite a powerful move by the director, and it really works well to emphasize the importance of the changes to the characters.
This movie is well written, well acted, and has an uplifting story. It is a welcome break from the Hollywood glitter that has removed all the talent needed to tell a good story and reduced it to a sequence of special effects. Italian for Beginners does not rely on any tricks, it relies solely on a wonderful story and talented actors, and for me it was a welcome change. I highly recommend spending two hours of your valuable time to watch this movie. You will not be disappointed.