walterbroner Reviews

The Seduction of Mimi (1972)

Misadventures of Mimi

[8/10 · 3 May 2012]

As a woman director in the early seventies, in a series of films Lina Wertmuller took on the issues related to gender and sexual revolutions, feminism and entrenched politics and economics. This work is one of them.

As is true of this part of her oeuvre, the film works on many levels. The director is never satisfied with merely going after the easy laughs. Any viewer looking for social commentary, both in the main story-telling and the subtext will come away satisfied.

This is a very "Italian" and "European" movie, in the sense that it captures the spirit of the times: both of the Italian North/South cultural wars/divide and of a particular European concern with the strength of "left" political and artistic movements and explorations of alternative, non-materialistic life-styles.

All of this is shown as experienced by Mimi, a southern Italian everyman, buffeted by fate. In this role, Giancarlo Giannini once again shows his mastery of the acting craft. As is true for all foreign films, my advice is that if you don't know the language of the original, always view the subtitled version, so as not to miss the subtleties of the individual performances.

I won't give away any of the plot. Just want to note that (as an architect, not a formally- trained film-maker) I can still appreciate the choices made by the director and cinematographer in telling the story. This is true for a thousand details. In the case of this film, the inspired choice of the camera lens ("fish-eye") for the scene between Giannini and Elena Fiore toward the end of the movie, adds immeasurably to its effectiveness. See for yourself and ROTFL.

Seven Beauties (1975)

A Must-see Masterpiece

[10/10 · 27 April 2012]

Under the excellent and taut direction (or maybe more accurately masterful conception) of Lina Wertmuller, Giancarlo Giannini and the rest of the superb cast tell an unforgettable story. As other reviewers have already noted, as an example of how well this film is crafted, the music selections are inspired, indeed the whole movie is just suffused with exquisite artistry contributed by entire cast and crew.

Wertmuller apparently based the character of Pasqualino on a real person's story. In the hands of Hollywood hacks, he would be, at best, a two-dimensional "bad guy" and the film's moral would be rendered simplistically enough to be graspable by people raised on empty spectacles Hollywood incessantly pitches at infantilized audiences. Instead, her inspired telling of this somewhat absurd tale dips and soars constantly; this is a veritable cinematic roller-coaster taking the viewer from farce to tragedy to irony without much of a chance to catch a breath. Fasten those seat belts, for sure.

Giannini is at his peak in this film as the protagonist(?). The nuances of complex feelings he conveys solely with his facial expressions span an incredible range. An absolutely towering performance, capturing all the possible emotions of a crazy lifetime within one film.

One of my all-time favorites, a film every serious student of the art form should see and learn from. I cannot recommend it enough. And yes, don't watch the dubbed version, revel in the original, glorious Italian (with a Neapolitan accent) of our anti-hero.

This is NOT a date movie. Expect to be shaken AND stirred to the bottom of your being. You'll never forget the experience of seeing it the first time.