L'IMMENSITA (2023) - Rome. The 1970s. Clara (Penelope Cruz) is raising a family with three children. She's in a loveless marriage with Felice (Vincenzo Amato). The biggest strain on the relationship comes through their eldest child Adriana (Luana Giuliani) who identifies as male - Andrea (they use the name 'Adri'). Clara is a loving nurturing mother who only wants the best for her youngster.
Director Emanuele Crialese (GOLDEN DOOR, TERRAFIRMA) has made public that he is trans himself, and co-wrote the screenplay with Francesca Manieri and Vittorio Moroni. The tale is clearly personal to Crialese and it manifests in his poignant and tender direction. The scenes with the three siblings have an authenticity no matter how stylish some of the directorial flourishes become - including breaking out into fantasy and songs.
What keeps the movie grounded are the actors including the very youngest ones. Giuliani displays a screen presence beyond her years. Cruz comfortably portrays an Italian woman (as she has done previously and in Michael Mann's current FERRARI), and gives another exceptionally fine performance in a very complicated role. Adri falls into a relationship with a young girl named Sara (Penelope Nieto Conti) who is name-called a 'gypsy'. Here again, Crialese shows his compassion for what society deems as 'outsiders'. Adri and Sara's relationship is handled with grace and tenderness.
L'IMMENSITA does feel, at times, as if it is trying to fit too many story-lines and subtext into a relatively brief running time, but when Crialese and his cast have the opportunity to play out a sequence, the movie is truly a moving experience and a confident one at that.
Director Emanuele Crialese (GOLDEN DOOR, TERRAFIRMA) has made public that he is trans himself, and co-wrote the screenplay with Francesca Manieri and Vittorio Moroni. The tale is clearly personal to Crialese and it manifests in his poignant and tender direction. The scenes with the three siblings have an authenticity no matter how stylish some of the directorial flourishes become - including breaking out into fantasy and songs.
What keeps the movie grounded are the actors including the very youngest ones. Giuliani displays a screen presence beyond her years. Cruz comfortably portrays an Italian woman (as she has done previously and in Michael Mann's current FERRARI), and gives another exceptionally fine performance in a very complicated role. Adri falls into a relationship with a young girl named Sara (Penelope Nieto Conti) who is name-called a 'gypsy'. Here again, Crialese shows his compassion for what society deems as 'outsiders'. Adri and Sara's relationship is handled with grace and tenderness.
L'IMMENSITA does feel, at times, as if it is trying to fit too many story-lines and subtext into a relatively brief running time, but when Crialese and his cast have the opportunity to play out a sequence, the movie is truly a moving experience and a confident one at that.