A film review: "Ma che bella sorpresa" [2015 Italy]

Alessandro Genovesi's comedy-fantasy "Ma che bella sorpresa" [Eng. Title: What a Lovely Surprise!] is one among the many escapist fantasies frequently aimed at a mainstream audience, but for what it is worth, the film does it well.










Set in Naples, the film starts with Guido (Claudio Bisio), a forty-something school teacher, returning home to find his girlfriend Anna (Anna Ammirati) packing up her bags to leave him for a Belgian sailor. Guido shuts himself from the world and settles for quiet evenings at home in the hope of overcoming his grief. One evening, a pretty young woman half his age knocks at his door and introduces herself as Silvia (Chiara Baschetti), his newly moved-in neighbour.

An excuse for borrowing sugar for tea quickly turns into an improvised dinner-date between the two, followed by sex, and before long, Guido had fallen head-over-heels in love with Silvia. All's fine and dandy for a while between the couple, and Giada (Valentina Lodovini), a widow living next door with a penchant for eavesdropping on him, listens worriedly to the all-too-frequent sounds of passion coming from Guido's apartment. After all, she fancies Guido too.

There's however a problem in the couple's relationship, in that no one apart from Guido could actually see or hear the undoubtedly charming Silvia, quite possibly because she's just a figment (albeit a wholesome and attractive one) of Guido's imagination. Once he realises that, he wastes little time in 'breaking up' with Silvia, which Giada next door also overhears, and sensing an opening, makes her presence felt to Guido.

But Silvia wouldn't let go and keeps appearing in Guido's path whenever 'she' wished, even after becoming aware that he had now hooked up with another woman. Giada, who can't see Silvia either, nevertheless makes it clear to Guido that she wouldn't want to be in a three-way relationship even if her rival's claim over him are at best, illusory. She leaves Guido momentarily, allowing him to make that 'difficult' choice...






I doubt if the film has pretensions (or grand illusions) of being anything other than escapist entertainment - it is not really a commentary on modern relationships or the mid-life crisis, and that's a relief. There are mild comedic moments in the film however, but not as much as to bring the house down. Newcomer Chiara Baschetti doesn't disappoint, and Valentina Lodovini - the reason for me picking up the film, is rather underused. Claudio Bisio's gentle comedy doesn't succeed all the time, but it is not all doom and gloom either - some of the best scenes are those capturing life and colour from the off-the-tourist-trail streets of Naples. One wishes there were more of these though.

Amazon DVD Link [PAL]

 

The Nudity: Chiara Baschetti and Valentina Lodovini
Two brief scenes feature topless nudity from the main female characters.



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Valentina Lodovini in "La Giusta Distanza" [2007 Italy]

Carlo Mazzacurati's drama "La Giusta Distanza" [Eng. Title: The Right Distance] was a pleasant surprise - I'd not seen any of this director's work before, and wasn't expecting a lot from what I feared to be one more of those patronising multi-ethnic romances strewn with customary Italian clichés, but I was glad to be proved wrong.

We are eased into the film like a gentle comedy, as we are introduced to the main characters and their less hurried lifestyle in the tiny northern Italian town by a river delta. It however changes complexion as the film progresses, taking the air of a mystery drama towards the end. The beautiful cinematography, thoughtful editing, and sure-footed direction ensure we get to see the best coming out of his cast - notably Giovanni Capovilla who makes his film-debut playing the young protagonist Giovanni, the beautiful and charismatic Valentina Lodovini playing Mara - the other primary character around whom the film revolves, and Ahmed Hefiane who plays Hassan - Mara's love interest. But the star of the film is definitely the excellent screenplay that shifts the film's tempo seamlessly despite various twists and turns. This film isn't just an out-and-out mystery thriller along the lines of El secreto de sus ojos, but takes on several additional themes without getting itself bogged-down. The title of the film refers to the adequate distance a journalist must keep from his/her subject, and making allowances, only where necessary. Likewise, the director too has certainly maintained 'the right distance' with his subject to give us a fair but non-judgemental snapshot of provincial Italian society. I'm surprised that this film hasn't won many more awards, and isn't as widely known than some of its lesser contemporaries. This is an extremely well made mainstream drama that oozes elegance, and therefore, Highly Recommended Viewing..!

Amazon.it DVD Link

 

Storyline:
Mara arrives as a temporary teacher at the town's primary school, a town where everyone is known to each other. Her arrival inadvertently causes a stir among the town-folks' hitherto tranquil lives, not least the honest and hard working immigrant car mechanic Hassan. Tragedy befalls, and 'justice' is also meted out, but young resident Giovanni - an enterprising and budding journalist, will pursue the 'real' truth regardless...

 

Compilation: Valentina Lodovini
Hassan is infatuated with Mara - played by the beautiful and talented Valentina Lodovini. He stalks her from the very day she arrives. She isn't too pleased after learning about it, but will soon end up dating him. They fall apart after she rejects his proposal for marriage, and Mara also decides to end her tenure earlier than planned. She nevertheless wishes to part under amicable terms and visits Hassan to patch things up...



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