THE LAST KISS
(L'ULTIMO BACIO)
**
Carlo Stefano Accorsi
Giulia Giovanna Mezzogiorno
Anna Stefania Sandrelli
Francesca Martina Stella
Alberto Marco Cocci
Marco Pierfrancesco Favino
Paolo Claudio Santamaria
Think Films presents a film written and directed by GabrieleMuccino. Running time: 114 minutes. In Italian with Englishsubtitles. Rated R (for language, sexuality and some drug use).Opening today at Landmark Century.
'The Last Kiss" is a comedy, I guess, about male panic at thespectre of adult responsibility. If you're a guy and want to figureout what side of the question you're on, take this test. You're ayoung single man. Your girlfriend announces at a family dinner thatshe is pregnant. You (a) accept the joys and responsibilities offatherhood; (b) climb up into a treehouse at a wedding to begin apassionate affair with an 18-year-old; (c) join three buddies indiscussing their plan to buy a van and trek across Africa.
Carlo (Stefano Accorsi), the hero of the film, is torn between (b)and (c). Marriage looms like a trap to him, and he complains toFrancesca (Martina Stella), the 18-year-old, that he fears "thepassion is going" from his life. When his girlfriend Giulia (GiovannaMezzogiorno) takes him along to look at a house they could buy, hecomplains that buying a house seems so "final." Not encouraging wordsfor a pregnant fiancee to hear. "If I catch him cheating, I'll killhim," she says, in the ancient tradition of Italian movie comedy.
But the movie isn't all comedy, and has fugitive ambitions, Ifear, to say something significant about romance and even life.Consider some of Carlo's friends. Paolo (Claudio Santamaria) isexpected to take over his father's clothing store, has no interest inretail, but is wracked with guilt because his father is dying andthis is his last wish. Marco (Pierfrancesco Favino) is a seriallover. Adriano (Giorgio Pasotti) is depressed because his girlfriendhas lost all interest in sex after giving birth. Their 30s and indeedtheir 40s are breathing hot on the necks of these friends, who clingto golden memories of adolescence.
There is also the case of Anna (Stefania Sandrelli), Carlo'smother, who is married to a detached and indifferent psychiatrist,and seeks out a former lover with hopes of, who knows, maybe nowtaking the path not chosen. The lover is delighted to see her for achat over lunch, but reveals that he has recently married and is theproud father of a one-year-old. How cruelly age discriminates againstwomen (at least those prepared to consider it discrimination and notfreedom).
"The Last Kiss" specializes in dramatic exits and entrances. Annabursts into her husband's office when he is deep in consultation witha patient, who seems alarmed that his own house is so clearly not inorder. Carlo awakens with dread after a night spent imprudently, andflees. Giulia makes a dramatic appearance at a death bed afterdiscovering Carlo lied to her. And so on.
The problem is that the movie has no idea of it is serious or not.It combines heartfelt self-analysis with scenes like the one whereCarlo is taken by his teenage squeeze to her friend's birthday, andtries to party with the kids. This is either funny or sad, not both,but the movie doesn't know which.
The message behind all of this is difficult to nail down. Mars andVenus? Adults who haven't grown up? The last fling syndrome? Doingwhat you want instead of doing what you must? I have just finishedWithout Stopping, the autobiography of the novelist and composerPaul Bowles, who as nearly as I can tell always did exactly what hewanted, and was married to Jane Bowles, who did the same. The answer,obviously, is not to choose between marriage and the van trip throughAfrica, but to dump the buddies and find a wife who wants to comealong.
No comments:
Post a Comment