I went to see this film after having read reviews which made me expect an insightful comedy, light-hearted but not superficial.
In all fairness, I was disappointed.
This film is really nothing to write home about. I'd say it's pretty dull but for the strange sense of humour which makes it a bit amusing.
It's reminded me also of "Amélie" a bit. Like "Amélie", it's pretty sweetish.
I've been very surprised to learn that it was awarded the "Silver Bear" in the Berlin Film Festival.
However, the thing I've found most irritating is the way in which us Italians are depicted, a way which is deeply stereotypical and misleading. I know that the film isn't about Italy and Italians, and that the Italian language course is just a pretext in order to tell the story of six people who learn to break the ice that surrounds their everyday lives. Despite that, I can't help judging this film also for the image that conveys of us Italians.
By the way, I've never heard of someone whose surname was Mercoledì ("Wednesday"), like the rather ridiculous teacher who features in the film. I can also assure you that it would be very unusual of a girl these days to pray to the Virgin Mary for her love to notice her, and that no, it's no longer true that Catholics (even Italian Catholics) only have sex after marriage.
Quite frankly, I'm tired of foreign film depicting Italy and us Italians in a way which would be nearly offensive if it weren't, more simply, just absurd.
6/10
In all fairness, I was disappointed.
This film is really nothing to write home about. I'd say it's pretty dull but for the strange sense of humour which makes it a bit amusing.
It's reminded me also of "Amélie" a bit. Like "Amélie", it's pretty sweetish.
I've been very surprised to learn that it was awarded the "Silver Bear" in the Berlin Film Festival.
However, the thing I've found most irritating is the way in which us Italians are depicted, a way which is deeply stereotypical and misleading. I know that the film isn't about Italy and Italians, and that the Italian language course is just a pretext in order to tell the story of six people who learn to break the ice that surrounds their everyday lives. Despite that, I can't help judging this film also for the image that conveys of us Italians.
By the way, I've never heard of someone whose surname was Mercoledì ("Wednesday"), like the rather ridiculous teacher who features in the film. I can also assure you that it would be very unusual of a girl these days to pray to the Virgin Mary for her love to notice her, and that no, it's no longer true that Catholics (even Italian Catholics) only have sex after marriage.
Quite frankly, I'm tired of foreign film depicting Italy and us Italians in a way which would be nearly offensive if it weren't, more simply, just absurd.
6/10