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Conny-7
Reviews
L'ultima neve di primavera (1973)
Manipulative film making?!?
One of a trend of "tearjerkers" made in Italy in the '70s starring child (at the time) actor Renato Cestie' (see also "The tree with pink leaves", "The balloons vendor", "White horses of summer", the latter sadly featuring the great Jean Seberg at the very end of her career. The plot in the films is always about "sick/misunderstood/neglected child in an awful adult world" - this specific one is about a terminally ill child brought up by a selfish and career minded father. I got really traumatized when I saw it as a child and to me it represents a true example of manipulative and exploitative film- making. I suppose it would be now considered a cult film in its own genre, as it somewhat verges on the kitsch...
Malèna (2000)
Voyeuristic, bland and shallow!
I found this film extraordinarily poor - the story does not go anywhere, Monica Bellucci goes up and down as if she were on a catwalk, looking bored stiff and being nothing but the object of desire of a teenager, all sorts of stereotypes abund behind the "arthouse film" facade!
The film never goes beyond voyeurism and there is certainly an intent to exploit women in the fact that Malena is merely an object from the first minute to the very last one of the film!
Everything is very one-dimensional (even the character of the hormones-ridden Renato is incredibly shallow).
I suppose the only aim of this film must have been to be a commercial success - the only decent thing I could see in it is the photography.
Avoid!
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Bleak, disturbing but ultimately worth seeing!
This is certainly the best film I have seen about drugs and one of the best films I have ever seen.
Especially the last 15 minutes will stay with me for a long time...
The film is beautifully made and although it left me emotionally drained I was glad I saw it.
Ellen Burstyn is absolutely great as Sara Goldfarb and she should have got an Oscar for her great performance.
Although it is bleak and disturbing, this film goes straight to the heart and I am glad that there are still directors like Darren Aronofksy who give us great films without tons of sugar and "feel good factor". Highly recommended - miss it at your own peril!