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Michael Reuben · 05-26-2003, 11:33 AM

Respiro

About halfway through the film, a woman behind me turned to her companion and said, "When is the movie going to start?" That will probably be a common reaction among viewers who want to know exactly what they're going to see when they plop down in their seat. Respiro dispenses with a lot of the familiar techniques for situating the viewer in the world of the film. It simply plunks you down on a tiny Italian island (the location is Lampedusa off the west coast of Sicily) and slowly insinuates you into the life of a local family, Grazia (Valerio Golino) and her fisherman husband and three children.

Grazia suffers from some sort of ailment (whether physical or psychological is never explained) that causes occasional seizures and may or may not explain some of her odd behavior, such as swimming topless in full view of the crew of her husband's fishing boat. Grazia's condition, and how others react to it, provides the through-line for the film, but the resolution isn't entirely satisfying and the real strength of the film lies in its incidental moments, which are presented almost casually, as if the camera just happened to stumble across them. There's Grazia's husband, drinking and chatting with his fellow fisherman about the worsening condition for their trade. There's her elder son, Pasquale, and his ongoing rivalry with other teens on the island. There's the younger son, Fillippo, who exchanges fish for raffle tickets and whose vigorous protests when he loses are hilarious; he's a kid trying to act out the role of a stereotyphical Italian male, and it's both funny and sad to watch. And there's the daughter, Marinella, who is just discovering the power she can wield over men.

The performances are uniformly excellent, and at 95 minutes, the film doesn't overstay its welcome. Those looking for Big Statements and Big Themes will be disappointed. Anyone who's intrigued by the prospect of exploring a life very different from that of most of us will be amply rewarded.

M.

05-26-2003, 11:33 AM	#182 of 409
Michael Reuben *Michael Reuben* Administrator Location: New York City, Lehman Bros. was here Join Date: Feb 1998 Local Time: 11:41 PM Local Date: 10-06-2008 Posts: 19,564	Respiro About halfway through the film, a woman behind me turned to her companion and said, "When is the movie going to start?" That will probably be a common reaction among viewers who want to know exactly what they're going to see when they plop down in their seat. Respiro dispenses with a lot of the familiar techniques for situating the viewer in the world of the film. It simply plunks you down on a tiny Italian island (the location is Lampedusa off the west coast of Sicily) and slowly insinuates you into the life of a local family, Grazia (Valerio Golino) and her fisherman husband and three children. Grazia suffers from some sort of ailment (whether physical or psychological is never explained) that causes occasional seizures and may or may not explain some of her odd behavior, such as swimming topless in full view of the crew of her husband's fishing boat. Grazia's condition, and how others react to it, provides the through-line for the film, but the resolution isn't entirely satisfying and the real strength of the film lies in its incidental moments, which are presented almost casually, as if the camera just happened to stumble across them. There's Grazia's husband, drinking and chatting with his fellow fisherman about the worsening condition for their trade. There's her elder son, Pasquale, and his ongoing rivalry with other teens on the island. There's the younger son, Fillippo, who exchanges fish for raffle tickets and whose vigorous protests when he loses are hilarious; he's a kid trying to act out the role of a stereotyphical Italian male, and it's both funny and sad to watch. And there's the daughter, Marinella, who is just discovering the power she can wield over men. The performances are uniformly excellent, and at 95 minutes, the film doesn't overstay its welcome. Those looking for Big Statements and Big Themes will be disappointed. Anyone who's intrigued by the prospect of exploring a life very different from that of most of us will be amply rewarded. M. "Most people never have to face the fact that, at the right time and the right place, they're capable of anything." -- Chinatown "What kind of movies would there be if everyone in them had to do what we thought they should do?" -- Roger Ebert HTF Beginner's Primer and FAQ