Venezia83: On the nose

It's my last full day at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, although I have more movies to watch tomorrow before (and after) my flight back to London. This trip has been a bit more work-intensive than previous visits to this festival, and I have't had much time to explore other things, including Biennale exhibitions or Venice Immersive. Still, I've seen a lot of movies, and had spare time to roam the city most days. Here are notes on five more movies...

Trick [Scherzetto]
dir Mario Martone; with Toni Servillo, Lorenzo Perrotta 26/It ***.
 Centred around a man and his young grandson, this Italian film mixes comedy and drama in a way that feels somewhat uneven. Filmmaker Mario Martone is gifted at creating complex characters and seeing the world through their eyes, so there are many layers to this story that speak to issues of aging, nostalgia and the disparities between generations. And actor Toni Servillo is a master at engaging with the audience.

Naza
dir-scr Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor; with Yuval Abraham 26/UK ****.
Don't expect something quietly informative here: this documentary's title is the acronym used by Israeli Military Forces to indicate the number of civilians who are expected to be killed in a strike against Gaza. Oscar-winning filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor use quiet conversations to tell this story, revealing that innocent people, including children, are being deliberately murdered as part of Israel's war on Palestine. 

A Bit of Light
dir Ali Asgari; with Missagh Zareh, Sadaf Asgari 26/Irn 
With a gently rolling pace and a quietly witty sensibility, this Iranian comedy-drama approaches a very serious premise with a superbly light-handed touch. Filmmaker Ali Asgari and his gifted cast create hugely likeable characters who support each other unconditionally, even if they'd rather not. It's a beautiful depiction of familial love in a place where government actions continually seem to obliterate hope.

One Minute to Midnight [Un Peu Avant Minuit]
dir-scr Nicolas Pariser; with Melvil Poupaud, Chiara Mastroianni 26/Fr ***
Talky and introspective, this French drama follows a 49-year-old man as he drifts from one intriguing conversation to another. All of this is very pointed, and writer-director Nicolas Pariser keeps it engaging by honing in on tantalising ideas about the disparity between memory and reality and connections between men and women. But while it explores hugely resonant issues, the film remains largely academic. 

Before the War
dir-scr Tommaso Usberti; with Piero Usberti, Luana Bajrami 26/It ***.
Beautifully photographed to capture a visceral feeling of summertime, this Italian drama is set in a rural community that's infused with a deep-seated culture of racism and machismo. So the romance at the film’s centre feels like it has little choice but to be doomed. But this is a bracingly honest, observational look at a guy in his early 20s only just beginning to see the nature of the world around him. 

Full reviews will be linked eventually to Shadows' VENICE FILM FEST PAGE >