The Man Without Gravity

I have taught English language and literature for over 40 years. One thing that has always challenged my students is the concept of "magical realism." With "The Man Without Gravity," I have a tool that makes teaching this genre (perhaps??) easier and FUN to do.

I happened onto this by pure accident, but from the opening sequence, I was immediately struck by how this film echoes of Márquez's story, "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings." Yes--the conceit is similar: a man can "fly." But both reveal deep concerns about "normalcy" and how we are afraid of things that are outside the narrow and "prestige" defined range.

What works in this film? First, the plot is magical: we see an infant born float from his mother's birth canal toward the ceiling attached to "earth" only through the intact umbilical cord. That image was compelling. But we move forward to where this boy meets and falls in love with a girl. Circumstances separate them, but they are reunited for a happy ending. OK--I'm a sucker for this plot device, but the way we are led through it is compelling.

The acting is lots of fun. The two leads: Elio Germano (Oscar, the protagonist) and Silvia D'Amico (Agata, his love) are fun to watch and we pull for them as children and as adults. They have an innocence in their faces which I relish and which compels my empathy and joy for them.

The directing is OK, too. This film could easily have gone overboard, but it depends on simple SFX that work and also maintains the focus on the two central characters. Marco Bonfanti-who also contributed to the story-manages the pace and images to keep engaged with our characters. One quick reference: see the scene where Oscar and Agata are running thru the umbrella shrouded streets. It is a joyous sequence.

Lastly, I refer once more to the magical realism. Tho' I am aware of some films that have attempted this concept, I believe this one carries it off extremely successfully. We are invited into a world where we accept that marvelous things can happen. And ultimately, the marvel is young love growing into mature and lasting love.

Take an hour and a half and relish this movie. Some who discard it, perhaps, don't realize how magical realism is an important 20th century genre and that this film does a great job of showing us the magic and the realism of love.