Mosquitha Reviews

Misunderstood (2014)

Misunderstood.

[9/10 · 30 December 2015]

I saw this film 2 days ago and it is still growing on me. It had the effect of one of those films that you generally like just after viewing, but then you keep thinking about this or that character, or different scenes, and how striking they were, and you just can' t wait to watch it again.

This film portrays very well the difficulty of the transition between childhood and adolescence, and that of growing up in a dysfunctional family, the characters, the situations feel very real and I can relate to many of them, either because of personal experience or friend' s experience.

The characters are memorable, especially the lazy, older half sister with her morbid relationship with her father and her gaudy pink room, the crazy, self obsessed artist mother, and of course the main character, Aria.

I do not want to spend ages analysing this film, I just feel like to give my positive feedback as it really touched me, and I think that if you like good films about teenagers, or coming of age films, you should check this out as it might be for you. On top of all this it is visually very stylish, and has a killer soundtrack.

Le moine (1972)

Overall enjoyable although flawed adaptation.

[7/10 · 12 February 2015]

I finally got hold of a copy of this film after searching for it for ages! I have to say this film version is better than I expected. I was sometimes reminded of The Devils by Russell, although I consider that a superior film. The Monk is one of my favourite books, I love its lurid, intricate plot. Of course here not everything has been brought on the screen from the book, I guess a mini series could be better suited to do that. The omission of several characters with their secret connections suddenly coming to light, took away one of the features I enjoyed the most of the book, however I think Natalie Delon was perfectly suited to play Mathilda, she is exactly how I imagined her from the book. Antonia is also well portrayed. While I think physically Franco Nero suits the role of Ambrosio very well, I don' t know, I found his performance a bit uninspired in certain scenes. Maybe the character of such a weak, corrupted man, did not suit his acting abilities? I also found the final scene, when you see Ambrosio as pope in modern times, very random. I prefer the book' s final scene. Overall though I enjoyed the film and will probably watch it again in some time.

Dorian Gray (2009)

Interesting take on a classic tale,

[9/10 · 22 October 2014]

I really enjoyed this film, I do not agree with the bad reviews some viewers left.

Its atmosphere is very dark and Gothic, so it helps if you like these qualities in a film. Splendid costumes and settings, and very good acting all around. Dorian Gray is perfect as a smooth faced naive high society boy who slowly gets corrupted.

There are quite a few diversions to the original story. I have read the book quite a few years back and it' s one of my favourites. Having said that, I found the changes to the story in this film very plausible and interesting. There have been so many films about Dorian Gray, so I am not against a version that changes something, as it still keeps the values and ideas of the book in mind.

Mignon è partita (1988)

A delicate little gem of a film.

[9/10 · 10 July 2014]

I had this film in videotape when I was a teenager, I spontaneously enjoyed its vision without asking myself too many questions about it. After that, 20 years passed by without seeing it and without really thinking about it, until recently when I watched another coming of age Italian film from the 90s, Ovosodo, and, having been really impressed by the raw honesty of it, I started thinking back to Mignon e' partita, and the similarities and differences between these 2 coming of age Italian films.

I managed to track down a copy of Mignon e' partita, and watched it finally yesterday. I remembered from my youth an average but enjoyable TV film about a dysfunctional but loving family, being put through a new test with the sudden arrival of a relative who is a complete stranger, and not a friendly one either.

Watching it again after many years I was impressed by the vivid atmosphere of this film, by the depth of its characters, the quality of the acting of both adults, played by nationally famous actors as, for example, Stefania Sandrelli, Massimo D' Apporto, and youngsters, who play their roles with such a vitality and a talent that I really hope they had, after this film, the chances they deserve to act in many other quality films.

Overall I can say director Francesca Archibugi created an intimate, vivid and totally believable family portrait in this film, mixing elements of tragedy, comedy and romance in the perfect way to create this little gem of a film.

If you like social realism, so-called kitchen sink dramas, coming of a age stories, I would strongly advise you to give a try to this film.