How frustrating it can be when you watch a movie that has a lot of tremendous moments but doesn't hang together well as a complete whole. Such is the case with this latest offering from writer-director Emanuele Crialese, which tells the story of a family in the midst of multiple domestic crises. Set in Rome in the 1970s, the picture follows the life of Clara (Penélope Cruz), the depressed wife and mother of three who's married to an abusive, philandering, often-disconnected husband (Vincenzo Amato), and her attempts to cope with her circumstances. Clara loves her children dearly, but the young ones all have challenges of their own, especially her eldest, Adriana (Luana Giuliani), a teen who's struggling with gender identity issues. Clara and Adriana seek various forms of escape, as depicted in several fantasy sequences and regular forms of play (all captured with a terrific sense of humor), but are those diversions enough to take away their heartache? The film also seeks to address a number of Italian cultural matters, such as the privileged role of men and the expected subservient place of women, dynamics that unfold in the principal narrative as well as in ancillary story threads. Sadly, while these are all noteworthy elements of the story, there's a little too much going on for the picture to hold everything together cohesively, especially when crammed into is relatively brief 1:37:00 runtime. Also, a number of the story's aspects are presented a little too vaguely for my taste, leaving them open more to ambiguous, unfocused interpretation than bona fide nuance. To its credit, however, when the sequences work, they do so quite effectively, in large part thanks to the fine performances of Giuliani and, particularly, Cruz, whose ravishing elegance recalls a young Sophia Loren. It's unfortunate that this offering isn't better fleshed out; it could have stood to either have some elements cut out completely or to expand and elaborate on the overall narrative. As it stands now, however, this release feels choppy, underdeveloped and incomplete, despite the strength of those aforementioned moments. Those are the sequences that make this offering work; it's just a shame that there weren't more of them and that they were better tied together.
16 Reviews
I didn't get it
beatrice_gangi18 September 2022
L'immensità is a strange film. It certainly has no obvious problems and is technically well made. Penelope Cruz is a joy in every scene, and it is nice that she has committed to acting in Italian.
It is not clear what direction the film would like to take, however; different concepts and situations seem inconsistent and unconnected, and for a character-driven film they are all superficially portrayed. It is not clear what the characters think and why they do what they do. It is then not clear what the film wants to tell us.
The child actors are not professionals and it is very visible, especially for the one with the lead role. I recognise that it was a complex part but the character comes across as almost apathetic.
Unfortunately, I couldn't really find the "why" for this film to be, but it could certainly be very much appreciated by someone with a sensitivity closer to what it wants to tell us.
It is not clear what direction the film would like to take, however; different concepts and situations seem inconsistent and unconnected, and for a character-driven film they are all superficially portrayed. It is not clear what the characters think and why they do what they do. It is then not clear what the film wants to tell us.
The child actors are not professionals and it is very visible, especially for the one with the lead role. I recognise that it was a complex part but the character comes across as almost apathetic.
Unfortunately, I couldn't really find the "why" for this film to be, but it could certainly be very much appreciated by someone with a sensitivity closer to what it wants to tell us.
L'immensità
CinemaSerf12 August 2023
I think as she ages, Penélope Cruz is beginning to look more like Sophia Loren and certainly here, I thought the resemblance was quite strong at times. Likewise, the young "Adri" (Luana Giuliani) looks a bit like Cruz too - who plays her mother "Clara". The story is set in a Roman 1970s of floral patterns and bell-bottomed trousers, post-war development and centres around the young daughter who really wants to be a boy. This isn't an in-your-face drama about sexuality, it's more nuanced than that and whilst the underlying frustrations of "Adri/Andrew" serves as a spine for the film, there is also a relationship between husband and wife, a broader familial one and the hint of a slightly undercooked romance between "Adri" and her new, less privileged, friend "Sara" (Penélope Nieto Conti). It's that last relationship that rather sums us the pretty bitty narrative here. We see snippets of their lives, but they are not necessarily that well connected to the theme. It's episodic without enough explanation. The marriage is failing, yes. Why? Well that we don't really know. The father/husband "Felice" (Vincenzo Amato) role is left hanging all to often, we have no idea what makes him tick nor, really, do we get to grips with what is troubling the loving and caring "Clara". Their son "Gino" (Patrizio Francioni) has a rather curious habit of leaving little deposits on the carpet and, indeed, it's really only the young "Diana" (María Chiara Goretti) who brings any sanity to this family arrangement. There is humour here, permitting us to take a breather from the frequently over-intense writing and there are a few musical numbers that showcase both Cruz and Giuliani as talented and skilful at their craft. It's worth a watch, and it looks stylish and classy, but I'm afraid I found it all just a bit too messy and superficial.
Penelope is magnificent
sorcered30 June 2023
A Spanish woman (Penelope Cruz) marries an Italian jerk (Vincenzo Amato) that, after making her three kids, starts cheating on her. She tries to keep her marriage together and her kids oblivious of the drama she goes through, but the situation is so bad that even the kids realize that in their family love is just a word. One of the kids, Adri, is a girl that dreams to be a boy - and acts towards that, dressing like a boy and pretending to be called Andrea, not Adriana.
This is the starting point (you learn all this in the first five minutes) - but the story doesn't really go anywhere, it's just a collection of moments in the dissolution of a plausible family (my father and a lot of his friends were just like Felice - yes, women really had a very hard time in the 70s).
So don't watch this movie for the story, watch it for Penelope. She's amazing.
This is the starting point (you learn all this in the first five minutes) - but the story doesn't really go anywhere, it's just a collection of moments in the dissolution of a plausible family (my father and a lot of his friends were just like Felice - yes, women really had a very hard time in the 70s).
So don't watch this movie for the story, watch it for Penelope. She's amazing.
The love of a mother
AvionPrince1613 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I really enjoyed the movie. It have a pretty slow pace but give some interesting things go think and we litteraly see how this mother take care of her childrens and and her own problems ( violent Husband, sex that she doesnt want). I mean everyone with a family can relate to them and all their problems of the child: the girl who act like a man, the little girl who seem pretty disconnected. We have also some more intimate moments ( when the mother become the actress in the TV and sing with her child or sing alone). Its a pretty simple subject: a love of a mother. But we will see different problems inside the family and a mother who will fight for her children. A nice topic with some nice moments: the emotions are still there and i enjoyed the movie and to know this Italian movie in the 70's. Its pretty hard to see some scene: like at the beginning when the boy is hiding under the bed and witnessed that her mother get raped because she doesnt consent to have it. And that s pretty hard to see even more trough that young boy. There are also some moments pretty enjoyable and funny. I spend a good time watching this anyway. Simple but effective.
Even if the movie have scenes that feel independant from each other like the director didnt know really what direction the movie need to take. A love of a mother? Ok but when she gets sick and she is in hospital what is the subject then? Sometimes i get off the movie because some scenes are connected but feel not logical or a real sense or just dont have anything interesting to tell or an implcit message for us. But nothing like that. Its a movie who have the love of a woman for her childrens. Nothing more and nothing less.
Even if the movie have scenes that feel independant from each other like the director didnt know really what direction the movie need to take. A love of a mother? Ok but when she gets sick and she is in hospital what is the subject then? Sometimes i get off the movie because some scenes are connected but feel not logical or a real sense or just dont have anything interesting to tell or an implcit message for us. But nothing like that. Its a movie who have the love of a woman for her childrens. Nothing more and nothing less.
Makes you think
srgymrat3321 December 2023
Overall I enjoyed this movie and it made some good points that leave the viewer to decide the meaning and implications for themselves .
It's an art film , there is not a specific plot or climax , instead it's just a series of events helping develop the characters and situation and dynamics . I loved this about it - they did not have some big unnecessary event to "tie " it all together - the beauty is in the subtle subtleties. The set and costume design was amazingly well done - music choice as well - helped you get into the time frame and understand societal implications of the various conflicts .
The LGBTQ+ aspect is obviously important and central , but I actually felt like the more central theme was overall internal conflict , feelings of being trapped and the dynamics between parents and children . Obviously these are portrayed through the LGBT influence in a tasteful and powerful way . I doubt the most interesting part of this however the dynamic between parent and child - mom and child / children specifically. I thought the most powerful line of the movie was "Andre " telling the mom that she is the parent and they are the kids .
The imagination scenes , ending included , really were well done and helped you come to the conclusion that you have to come to your own conclusions. . You can't leave with a definitive path going forward - instead just that both mom and daughter will keep fighting .
Worth the time for sure - Cruz was fantastic .
It's an art film , there is not a specific plot or climax , instead it's just a series of events helping develop the characters and situation and dynamics . I loved this about it - they did not have some big unnecessary event to "tie " it all together - the beauty is in the subtle subtleties. The set and costume design was amazingly well done - music choice as well - helped you get into the time frame and understand societal implications of the various conflicts .
The LGBTQ+ aspect is obviously important and central , but I actually felt like the more central theme was overall internal conflict , feelings of being trapped and the dynamics between parents and children . Obviously these are portrayed through the LGBT influence in a tasteful and powerful way . I doubt the most interesting part of this however the dynamic between parent and child - mom and child / children specifically. I thought the most powerful line of the movie was "Andre " telling the mom that she is the parent and they are the kids .
The imagination scenes , ending included , really were well done and helped you come to the conclusion that you have to come to your own conclusions. . You can't leave with a definitive path going forward - instead just that both mom and daughter will keep fighting .
Worth the time for sure - Cruz was fantastic .
Immensely... Something
thalassafischer27 December 2023
I love art house Italian films from the 1970s so I wanted to see L'immensita but I found myself underwhelmed. The film is pretty, but not beautiful. It's artful but not terribly interesting. The musical moments were lovely but did not uplift a claustrophobic tale about a 12 year old trans boy obsessed with his unhappy mother. The emphasis here is on the experience of late childhood and puberty, the suffering of a trans adolescent resisting their given gender role in traditional society, and there's little escape into the wider world of Rome in the 1970s beyond a tween's impression taken from movies and television.
The movie is mostly sad and boring, and while I sympathize with the director I guess I am just not the target audience here. Also, I felt that the mother's supposed mental illness was too understated, too subtle. I didn't get that she was crazy, just miserable and looking for joy where she could find it with her kids, as she certainly couldn't have it with her husband.
The movie is mostly sad and boring, and while I sympathize with the director I guess I am just not the target audience here. Also, I felt that the mother's supposed mental illness was too understated, too subtle. I didn't get that she was crazy, just miserable and looking for joy where she could find it with her kids, as she certainly couldn't have it with her husband.
Italian 1970s "Scenes From a Marriage"
paul-allaer9 March 2024
As "L'Immensita" (2022 release from Italy; 99 min.) opens, we are introduced to Clara, an unhappily married housewife with her 3 children. They are prepping dinner, awaiting the arrival of Clara's husband. In a parallel story, Clara's oldest is 12 yo. Andrea, a girl who wishes she was a boy. At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.
Couple of comments: this is the latest from Italian director Emanuele Crialese. Here he assesses the sad state of affairs in a hapless marriage, while along the way also examining the difficulties encountered by a girl-wanna-be-boy. It all makes for some curious viewing. What strikes is how carefully coordinated the movie is to reflect its 1970s setting, none more so that the presence of the hit single by Adriano Celentano with the impossible to pronounce title. The single's video is carefully restaged by the cast in a fantasy sequence. Thankfully there is Penelope Cruz, as Clara. It immediately strikes how she resembles Sophia Loren in the way her hair is styled and her makeup is done. Frankly, Cruz's performance is the small saving grace of this film, as otherwise the movie's overall feeling is quite bleak.
"L'immensita" premiered at the 2022 Venice film festival to general good acclaim. It is currently rated 83% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, where I caught it the other night. I myself am not quite so keen on this film than the Rotten Tomatoes would suggest. Of course I encourage you to check it out for yourself, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the latest from Italian director Emanuele Crialese. Here he assesses the sad state of affairs in a hapless marriage, while along the way also examining the difficulties encountered by a girl-wanna-be-boy. It all makes for some curious viewing. What strikes is how carefully coordinated the movie is to reflect its 1970s setting, none more so that the presence of the hit single by Adriano Celentano with the impossible to pronounce title. The single's video is carefully restaged by the cast in a fantasy sequence. Thankfully there is Penelope Cruz, as Clara. It immediately strikes how she resembles Sophia Loren in the way her hair is styled and her makeup is done. Frankly, Cruz's performance is the small saving grace of this film, as otherwise the movie's overall feeling is quite bleak.
"L'immensita" premiered at the 2022 Venice film festival to general good acclaim. It is currently rated 83% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, where I caught it the other night. I myself am not quite so keen on this film than the Rotten Tomatoes would suggest. Of course I encourage you to check it out for yourself, and draw your own conclusion.
Beautiful and distressing at the same time
cerebro8416 January 2023
This movie is, for the admission of his on author, inspired to Crialese's childhood. I could feel from the beginning to the end the difficulty of Andrea to accept his body, the inability to watch himself on the mirror or to show himself shirtless in front of other. Some amusement helps counterbalance the heaviness of the family situation, I'm referring to the musical parts of the movie which are not only beautifully shot but help understanding how the central character would like to be seen by others, in contrast to what he sees looking at the mirror. Sure, this is not an action movie, you won't find a clear villain (although certainly the father does not come out well) or an ending, yet it kept me glued to the screen for the whole duration of the film.
Emanuele Crialese creates a interesting yet uneven story about a mother and children's relationship
chenp-5470829 January 2023
Saw this back at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
L'immensita is a story about the love between the character Clara and her children, set in Rome in the '70s. Emanuele Crialese previous films has proven he has talent with directing, production and narrative style as I have enjoyed his previous works. Unfortunately while L'immensità is well performed from Penélope Cruz and extremely colorful production and camerawork, the film suffers from an uneven tone and generic narrative.
The narrative is pretty simple and each moment that happens was pretty predictable of what steps it was heading for. The tone of the film is the most confusing part as the film isn't sure if the film wants to become a drama, comedy or comedy-drama at the same time. Most of the characters were not as interesting as Crialese thinks they were as many of their arches felt underdeveloped and dull. While Cruz's performance was fantastic, the child performances were a mix of being decent or pretty poor. I don't like to criticize child actors since I understand they aren't as professional as adult actors but the uneven performance does feel distracting at times.
The film isn't fully terrible as the soundtrack is pretty good, the production and camerawork is colorful and fits the time period, and the film doesn't have a bad pacing which does help to make the film still be interesting at certain levels. But the film could have use some work with better writing and characters. Overall, there are some interesting moments but the uneven narrative and weak characters wasn't able to fully make the film as impactful as it wants to be.
Rating: C+
L'immensita is a story about the love between the character Clara and her children, set in Rome in the '70s. Emanuele Crialese previous films has proven he has talent with directing, production and narrative style as I have enjoyed his previous works. Unfortunately while L'immensità is well performed from Penélope Cruz and extremely colorful production and camerawork, the film suffers from an uneven tone and generic narrative.
The narrative is pretty simple and each moment that happens was pretty predictable of what steps it was heading for. The tone of the film is the most confusing part as the film isn't sure if the film wants to become a drama, comedy or comedy-drama at the same time. Most of the characters were not as interesting as Crialese thinks they were as many of their arches felt underdeveloped and dull. While Cruz's performance was fantastic, the child performances were a mix of being decent or pretty poor. I don't like to criticize child actors since I understand they aren't as professional as adult actors but the uneven performance does feel distracting at times.
The film isn't fully terrible as the soundtrack is pretty good, the production and camerawork is colorful and fits the time period, and the film doesn't have a bad pacing which does help to make the film still be interesting at certain levels. But the film could have use some work with better writing and characters. Overall, there are some interesting moments but the uneven narrative and weak characters wasn't able to fully make the film as impactful as it wants to be.
Rating: C+
Family drama with a transgender subplot
steiner-sam20 June 2023
It's a family drama with a transgender subplot set in 1970 in Rome, Italy. It follows a summer in the life of a dysfunctional family.
Clara (Penélope Cruz) is the mother of three children. She is devoted to her children but has a rocky relationship with her philandering and abusive husband, Felice (Vincenzo Amato). Their oldest child, Adriana/Adri/Andrew (Luana Giuliani), is 12 years old, born as a girl but identifies as a boy. Gino (Patrizio Francioni) is a younger brother, and Diana (Maria Chiara Goretti) is perhaps a six-year-old girl.
Adri develops a summer friendship with a Romany girl named Sara (Penélope Nieto Conti), during which they identifies as Andrew. Their parents and extended family resist Adri's identification, though Clara is sympathetic. Eventually, the family encounters two crises, and Adri tries to escape through fantasy. "L'immensità" ends inconclusively.
The director came out as transgender with the release of this film. "L'immensità" tends to wander a bit but reflects a family in crisis very well. Cruz is probably too attractive for her role and tends to overshadow Luana Giuliani, who deserves great credit for a demanding and complex role.
Clara (Penélope Cruz) is the mother of three children. She is devoted to her children but has a rocky relationship with her philandering and abusive husband, Felice (Vincenzo Amato). Their oldest child, Adriana/Adri/Andrew (Luana Giuliani), is 12 years old, born as a girl but identifies as a boy. Gino (Patrizio Francioni) is a younger brother, and Diana (Maria Chiara Goretti) is perhaps a six-year-old girl.
Adri develops a summer friendship with a Romany girl named Sara (Penélope Nieto Conti), during which they identifies as Andrew. Their parents and extended family resist Adri's identification, though Clara is sympathetic. Eventually, the family encounters two crises, and Adri tries to escape through fantasy. "L'immensità" ends inconclusively.
The director came out as transgender with the release of this film. "L'immensità" tends to wander a bit but reflects a family in crisis very well. Cruz is probably too attractive for her role and tends to overshadow Luana Giuliani, who deserves great credit for a demanding and complex role.
No likeable character
CarolineFR6920 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Set in 1970s Rome, this movie follows a family going through a lot of things at the same time: gender questioning from Adri (one of the kids), cheating from the husband, depression from the mother. Though I get that going through all this would be hard for any of them, none of the characters are likeable. Adri is putting every kid in danger, because they decided that they were grown up enough and that their siblings and cousins should follow their every steps. They have a very bad temper, and just seem to want to watch the world burn. The bad temper could easily have been inherited from the father, who is violent, and seems very much to put the whole family into a bad mood as soon as he arrives home. He wants his kids to behave at all times, and his wife to be ok with him cheating with his secretaries. As for the wife, she came from Spain, and has a lot more "joie de vivre" than her husband. She tries to bring happiness and to show that life is a party to her children, so that they do not end up like their dad. She is extremely unhappy, and feels alone in a country that is not hers, surrounded by people that are very different from her. She is the only character I was able to feel anything for, and even then, she was not able to hold the movie enough for me to like it.
Great filmmaking
martinpersson972 May 2023
This piece, made by an incredible and very acclaimed director and showcasing great actors and actresses such as Penelope Cruz, is truly a masterpiece in every sense of the word.
The writing is very clever and thouroughly conveyed. It is truly a brilliant script, accompined by incredible acting by these great stars.
Overall, it is a great piece showcasing great cinematography, and truly a testament to the capabilities of this great director and cast.
It is truly one of the better film I have seen from this country, which is no faint praise considering its filmography.
I would definitely recommend it for any lover of film.
The writing is very clever and thouroughly conveyed. It is truly a brilliant script, accompined by incredible acting by these great stars.
Overall, it is a great piece showcasing great cinematography, and truly a testament to the capabilities of this great director and cast.
It is truly one of the better film I have seen from this country, which is no faint praise considering its filmography.
I would definitely recommend it for any lover of film.
A total fail
walidoo14 January 2023
This movie is full of cliches about macho men beating up wives, raping them, cheating on them and intolerant to the lgbtq people. I really tried to find an interest in this but every new scene was a new disaster. Of course frivolous women are depicted positively and divorcing is promoted as you can imagine. The only excuse that could be found for such prejudiced vision is the fact that it's supposed to happens in the 1970s. But it can't explain such ridiculous story which reminded me of "not without my daughter" in its black and white way of praising mother-child relationship by demonizing father-family ones.
I add a 2nd start for Penelope act.
I add a 2nd start for Penelope act.
Told with real warmth and compassion
gortx27 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
L'IMMENSITA (2023) - Rome. The 1970s. Clara (Penelope Cruz) is raising a family with three children. She's in a loveless marriage with Felice (Vincenzo Amato). The biggest strain on the relationship comes through their eldest child Adriana (Luana Giuliani) who identifies as male - Andrea (they use the name 'Adri'). Clara is a loving nurturing mother who only wants the best for her youngster.
Director Emanuele Crialese (GOLDEN DOOR, TERRAFIRMA) has made public that he is trans himself, and co-wrote the screenplay with Francesca Manieri and Vittorio Moroni. The tale is clearly personal to Crialese and it manifests in his poignant and tender direction. The scenes with the three siblings have an authenticity no matter how stylish some of the directorial flourishes become - including breaking out into fantasy and songs.
What keeps the movie grounded are the actors including the very youngest ones. Giuliani displays a screen presence beyond her years. Cruz comfortably portrays an Italian woman (as she has done previously and in Michael Mann's current FERRARI), and gives another exceptionally fine performance in a very complicated role. Adri falls into a relationship with a young girl named Sara (Penelope Nieto Conti) who is name-called a 'gypsy'. Here again, Crialese shows his compassion for what society deems as 'outsiders'. Adri and Sara's relationship is handled with grace and tenderness.
L'IMMENSITA does feel, at times, as if it is trying to fit too many story-lines and subtext into a relatively brief running time, but when Crialese and his cast have the opportunity to play out a sequence, the movie is truly a moving experience and a confident one at that.
Director Emanuele Crialese (GOLDEN DOOR, TERRAFIRMA) has made public that he is trans himself, and co-wrote the screenplay with Francesca Manieri and Vittorio Moroni. The tale is clearly personal to Crialese and it manifests in his poignant and tender direction. The scenes with the three siblings have an authenticity no matter how stylish some of the directorial flourishes become - including breaking out into fantasy and songs.
What keeps the movie grounded are the actors including the very youngest ones. Giuliani displays a screen presence beyond her years. Cruz comfortably portrays an Italian woman (as she has done previously and in Michael Mann's current FERRARI), and gives another exceptionally fine performance in a very complicated role. Adri falls into a relationship with a young girl named Sara (Penelope Nieto Conti) who is name-called a 'gypsy'. Here again, Crialese shows his compassion for what society deems as 'outsiders'. Adri and Sara's relationship is handled with grace and tenderness.
L'IMMENSITA does feel, at times, as if it is trying to fit too many story-lines and subtext into a relatively brief running time, but when Crialese and his cast have the opportunity to play out a sequence, the movie is truly a moving experience and a confident one at that.
An unusual and sensitive film
Vindelander5 March 2024
This is a very different role for Penny Cruz which she carries off with her usual aplomb with an amazing supporting cast playing the part of her children. The story is ostensibly about her eldest child and how she is coping with adolescence but the story is really dwarfed by the problems of the mother.
It's a bit disjointed in places but the cutting in of dance scenes in black and white is as effective as it is unexpected (and some may say, unnecessary). It's a bit arty but I really enjoyed it and the closest parallel I can think of is Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
As others have said, Penny Cruz improves with age and I'm becoming ever more of a fan.
It's a bit disjointed in places but the cutting in of dance scenes in black and white is as effective as it is unexpected (and some may say, unnecessary). It's a bit arty but I really enjoyed it and the closest parallel I can think of is Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
As others have said, Penny Cruz improves with age and I'm becoming ever more of a fan.
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