Fourth Italian film in competition, does not convince and parades from the Totoleone list. The director Leonardo Di Costanzo: “He is a deeply political story because he looks at the bearer of guilt and listens to himself”
It is the day of Elisafourth of the five Italian films in competition at the Venice Film Festival. And unfortunately the expectations we had on the eve are disappointed. Black history of crime and direct ethical disorientation and co-writing from Leonardo di Costanzois freely inspired by the essay I wanted to kill her of the criminologists Adolfo Ceretti and Lorenzo Natali. Follows the reflection on the crime and on the inner path of those who made the crime that the director from Campania had started with the very successful Airopherm (2021). However, he does not find those illuminating flickers, nor does he move such deep and ambiguous doubts to fascinate.
«I have been dealing with guilt for some time, I have told it in various films, nor Intrusive and also The interval. In Airopherm There was the idea of entering the cell and filming evil in the face, if this is possible, “says Costanzo al Lido, rightly and tenderly happy to find himself in competition in Venice, for the first time. «When Ceretti and Natali sent me their manuscript, I found this story very interesting. I was interested in looking at evil not as a skill, not why and how to make a crime, but consider the character as a human being for work on a possible transformation».
Barbara Ronchi plays the Elisa who gives the title to the film. He has been in prison for ten years for killing his older sister. He has always claimed to remember little or nothing about the murder.
It is located in Switzerland, at the Fantomatico Moncaldo Institute, a rehabilitation penitentiary center that aims at recovery rather than punishment. And in fact it seems to be in a holiday resort rather than detention.
Elisa’s morning begins with a pleasant walk through mountain trails. The cell? It is a small hut that shares with another prisoner. Meanwhile, as an educational work, you need brioche and muffins at the bar of the structure.
When he decides to meet the criminologist Alaou (Roschdy Zem) and participate in his research, memories begin to take shape. Inadequacy and sense of failure are the shadows on the soul that have moved it towards violence.
“Elisa It is a deeply political story Because he looks at the bearer of guilt and puts himself in his listening, he does not think of punishment and revenge, a feeling so dominant in this period. Passes from the idea of guilt to that of taking responsibility “, reflects of Costanzo, who in the past have appreciated a lot for The interval And Airopherm.
But ElisaUnfortunately, it incede in a woody and tedious way, without making us feel inside the torments and the transformation of the protagonist, towards his assumption of responsibility. His path is quite monocorde, without vibrations.
In the cast too Valeria Golinoin a minor role, e Diego Ribona good paternal figure who, despite the drama immediately, is still there, ready to bring presence and sweetness to the murderous daughter.
“The father makes a revolutionary gesture, incomprehensible for society,” says his interpreter Diego Ribon. «He brings a foothold to his daughter, even if he made him fall into the tragedy. Imagine a hypothesis of the future for her and for himself “.
The script was written together with Bruno Oliviero and Valia.
Elisa He immediately leaves the cinema, From 5 September in the room With 01 Distribution. And it definitely parades from the Totoleone list.
