Showing @ Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Thu 19 Apr only
Edoardo Leo / Italy / 2010 / 100 min
First time feature film director Edoardo Leo and writer Marco Bonini work together once again after their 2008 TV pilot Ne parliamo a cena. 18 Years Later is the same tale that has been told countless times: two brothers, estranged for eighteen years, are brought back together after the tragic death of their father. They are forced to stay together upon receipt of a letter left by their padre, requesting them to drive his secretly remodelled Morgan to Calabria to spread his ashes by their mother’s grave.
Co-written and performed by Bonini (Genziano) and Leo (Mirko), the men prove themselves as strong storytellers, though the one they tell isn’t the most original. However, as predictable as the plot is, the men have created a heart-warming tale with some touchingly funny moments. Poignant scenes from Sabrina Impacciatore (Mirella) and Gabriele Ferzetti (Enrico) break up the storyline, as we learn the truth behind the family’s tragic past. Eugenia Constantini plays the inquisitive Cate well, which helps to keep the story interesting thanks to her impulsiveness. While not the most exciting of films, it passes the time well with its mix of heartfelt tranquillity and light piquancy.
Reviewed as part of the Italian Film Festival 2012 @ Filmhouse.