Previewed at the Rome Film Festival, an unexpected new title with excellent potential to capture interest.
Joe Wright returns to tell one of the greatest love stories ever written, transposing everything into an atmosphere out of time and surrounded by love, drama and music.
The story of Cyrano, an amazing swordsman with a more than sensitive soul, author of immeasurable verses full of the most lively feeling for the beloved Roxanne, unfortunately conquered by the charm of the new cadet Christian, who will turn to Cyrano to carry on his courtship destined to upset everyone's life forever.
In some ways the film can disturb the vision of many, fans or not of Edmond Rostand's masterpiece, partly because of the obvious (but far from problematic) differences from the text, starting with the main characteristic of the protagonist, no longer embodied from the bursting nose, and also from the fact that to describe their feelings and emotions the characters rely above all on singing.
And also, many may find the atmosphere quite ... unrealistic. But if you pay the right attention, you'll realize that this movie doesn't want to give a realistic view. Remember that this is based on a STAGE Musical, and it tries to replicate that atmosphere, succeeding very well in my opinion (so don't complain too much about a Black man portraying a French Soldier, or about a dwarf being able to fight so well with the sword, the movie manages to make you accept it without too much problems).
As a matter of fact, we may not even be in France, since none of the characters says it explicitly, and also other things like the soldiers' uniforms, the production design and other things put this tale Out of Time, in a very surreal atmosphere.
This is a more than enjoyable fresco that still manages to involve and conquer, especially thanks to the performance of one Peter Dinklage to the stars, able to to return all the rigor and torment that haunts him in feeling alienated and without the possibility of living a "normal" life and of expressing the true essence of his heart.
The rest of the cast offers the right accompaniment, moving through the excellent sets that have transformed Sicily into the stage, including the great shots taken on Etna itself (for those who don't know, Etna is a still active VOLCANO!!!)
A small title, not a masterpiece, but surely capable of giving the right emotions to the sound of swords and love verses.
