Italian for Beginners (2001) Reviews
- Starring:
- Anders W. Berthelsen, Peter Gantzler, (more)
- Director(s):
- Lone Scherfig
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
Member Rating
My RatingAverage Ratings
Member Reviews
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful Sorry, folks but there's nothing amateur and this film and its quite creative. If you are adicted to Hollywood formulas anything that moves away from the original takes adjustment. Dogma 95 ... Read More Sorry, folks but there's nothing amateur and this film and its quite creative. If you are adicted to Hollywood formulas anything that moves away from the original takes adjustment. Dogma 95 movies can appear a bit austere until you get used to it, thought they are not heavy on symbolism or difficult to grasp. The emphasis is on the character and story, stripping away irrelevancies and distractions and trying to create an almost live atmosphere. For example, the movement tries to avoid the use of background music to reinforce plot twists though live music is acceptable, as when there is a musician in a club or a character turns on a stereo or plays the jukebox. I think the abrupt beginning (in media res) also took some getting used to and closed some minds from the start. Actually, it has a kind of feel-good ending, which isn't typical of Dogma95. You might find, if you want it a second time, that you'll be surprised at what you see and the difference in your reactions. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful This movie uses video tape and not film. It relies for the most part on intense close-ups that disconcertingly serve only to pointlessly dramatize. It also uses that jiggly camera motion which can ... Read More This movie uses video tape and not film. It relies for the most part on intense close-ups that disconcertingly serve only to pointlessly dramatize. It also uses that jiggly camera motion which can not only make you nauseous but make it difficult to see the action. I'll admit, I only made it 1/2 through this movie as I felt the characters, whose lives were all very depressing and some were unredeemable, and the plot boring. At the most I would rate it as a good effort for a talented high-school film student. Don't waste your time. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful The beginning of this movie was sort of gloomy and depressing. However, it is cleverly made. Once I get into the stories of each person, I found them touching. After a time, the story became ... Read More The beginning of this movie was sort of gloomy and depressing. However, it is cleverly made. Once I get into the stories of each person, I found them touching. After a time, the story became clever and entertaining. It is interesting to observe that this is one of the foreign films where there is absolutely no glamor. The actors are incredibly plan, but that is also rather refreshing. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful I love foriegn films and I have to say this is the worst I have ever seen. The characters offer nothing but bitterness or depression, the plot is so slow and unredeemable to anyone in the story. This ... Read More I love foriegn films and I have to say this is the worst I have ever seen. The characters offer nothing but bitterness or depression, the plot is so slow and unredeemable to anyone in the story. This whole film was horrible and I can't believe I watched it. Please don't waste your time. It's just a bad film. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
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