A Summer in Genoa (2008)
"Genova" (original title)

A man moves his two daughters to Italy after their mother dies in a car accident, in order to revitalize their lives. Genova changes all three of them as the youngest daughter starts to see the ghost of her mother, while the older one discovers her sexuality.

Director:

Michael Winterbottom

Writers:

Laurence Coriat (screenplay), Michael Winterbottom (screenplay)

Stars:

Colin Firth, Perla Haney-Jardine, Willa Holland

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colin Firth	...	Joe
Perla Haney-Jardine	...	Mary
Willa Holland	...	Kelly
Catherine Keener	...	Barbara
Hope Davis	...	Marianne
Margherita Romeo	...	Rosa
Alessandro Giuggioli	...	Lorenzo
Dante Ciari	...	Fabio
Gherardo Crucitti	...	Mauro
Monica Bennati	...	Monica
Angelica Moretti	...	Angelica
Carlo Moretti	...	Carlo
Sara Stewart	...	Susanna
James Laurenson	...	Marianne's Father
Gary Wilmes	...	Danny

Storyline

How do children respond to tragedy? On an icy road near Chicago, Marianne dies in a crash, leaving Joe and their daughters, Kelly, about 16, and Mary, about 9. That summer, a friend from Joe's graduate student days, 20 years before, arranges a teaching job for him in Genoa. When they arrive in June, Joe starts teaching and the girls have the summer before school starts: Kelly quickly falls in with youths her age; their club and beach life leads to sexual awakening. Mary, burdened by guilt for her mother's death, is solitary. The girls take piano lessons, Mary draws, and she also sees and talks to her mother. Joe asks them, "Are you okay?", but is that enough?

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Plot Keywords:

summer | italy | ghost | guilt | icy road | 

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Taglines:

We all need a place to start again.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexuality and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Diaphana [fr]

Country:

UK

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

27 March 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Summer in Genoa

Filming Locations:

Camogli, Genoa, Liguria, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Revolution Films, Aramid Entertainment Fund, Film4

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

On their way from the airport, when they pass in the car in front of a fresco of Saint George fighting against the dragon, Ms. Keener says that Saint George is the Saint Patron of Genova. Now, it's true that Saint George has a strong link to the history of the city: the banner bears the cross of Saint George, in the middle ages the Bank which funded expeditions overseas (by the way it's the building that shows the fresco seen in the movie) was named after Saint George etc. but the Patron of Genova, since XIII century, is John the Baptist and he came to be after Genoese crusaders (First crusade) brought back from Holy Land his ashes, which are still kept in the Cathedral.

User Reviews

astonishing & harrowing

A constant state of anxiety makes this a difficult film to watch; it communicates the anxieties of a parent for the well-being of their children very powerfully. Will they get lost? Will they get run over? Will they drown? Achingly terrible fears arise out of the most mundane circumstances. The acting is fabulous and the city, itself, is beautifully filmed, so that it becomes integral to the feelings that are created. The family relationships are truthfully portrayed and the effects of grief, expereinced in different ways by each of them, is beautifully explored without a hint of sentimentality. This is a true gem of a movie.