Sistermadly (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} pineapple_head) wrote,@ 2004-11-30 16:32:00 |
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My First Film Review - 15 Amore.
15 Amore is an Australian film which I suspect went straight to DVD, unless it ran in an arthouse theatre somewhere and I missed it. Lisa Hensley, most famous for Brides of Christ and Steve Bastioni (Police Rescue, Popcorn amongst other things), take billing honours in this gentle little film.
The sub-title heralds - 'Country at war, family at peace' and this is most accurate. The story is set amongst lush New South Wales agricultural land, on a seemingly affluent property managed by the most capable and intelligent Dorothy, mother of 3 and a career solider's wife. Dorothy manages the spread. She is the epitome of practical country living. Cool and calm through any crisis, with skills in farm management, first aid, domestic duties, labour delegation, and tennis of all things.
When two Italian prisoners of war are billetted with Dorothy for use as farm labourers, still effectively under military control at the local base, the underlying sexual tension between one of the prisoners and Dorothy is portrayed with a dignity and elegance that doesnt demean either of their primary relationships. It highlights in both, their morality and honour, each suffering lonliness, deprived of a sexual relationships (for nearly 7 years in Dorothy's case) but each standing firm to vows, unrelenting despite a phsycial pull that threatens to overwhelm them at times. The sexual tension is but one of a number of intricate interwoven sub plots in this lovely tale.
The children in the piece, having no real memories of their father, adopt the Italian labourers as surrogates, and delight in the company of the young men, with their quaint foreignness. It isn't until the arrival of Jewish, German, mother and daughter refugees that we see the plot evolve into a plethora of conflicts, including the fiercely loyal German struggling with her own treatment at the hands of her beloved home land and her dislike of her accidental, inhospitable new home. That particular aspect allows the use of some rather unusual cinematography credited as 'insect' photography.
There is much to like about this film. The study of women in particular appealed to me. The strong serene Dorothy quickly became my heroine and in comparison with the embittered Jewish mother and her sexually maturing, inquisitive daughter was easily the most likeable.
If you are looking for a fast paced story, don't bother with this. If you want a story rich with studies of human beahviour, particularly under stress, then this little Australian gem is sure to please. The multi-layered plot never overwhelms the senses, instead it directs you to think about our complexities as humans and our treatment of each other.
How's that Bosch? Did I pass?
15 Amore is an Australian film which I suspect went straight to DVD, unless it ran in an arthouse theatre somewhere and I missed it. Lisa Hensley, most famous for Brides of Christ and Steve Bastioni (Police Rescue, Popcorn amongst other things), take billing honours in this gentle little film.
The sub-title heralds - 'Country at war, family at peace' and this is most accurate. The story is set amongst lush New South Wales agricultural land, on a seemingly affluent property managed by the most capable and intelligent Dorothy, mother of 3 and a career solider's wife. Dorothy manages the spread. She is the epitome of practical country living. Cool and calm through any crisis, with skills in farm management, first aid, domestic duties, labour delegation, and tennis of all things.
When two Italian prisoners of war are billetted with Dorothy for use as farm labourers, still effectively under military control at the local base, the underlying sexual tension between one of the prisoners and Dorothy is portrayed with a dignity and elegance that doesnt demean either of their primary relationships. It highlights in both, their morality and honour, each suffering lonliness, deprived of a sexual relationships (for nearly 7 years in Dorothy's case) but each standing firm to vows, unrelenting despite a phsycial pull that threatens to overwhelm them at times. The sexual tension is but one of a number of intricate interwoven sub plots in this lovely tale.
The children in the piece, having no real memories of their father, adopt the Italian labourers as surrogates, and delight in the company of the young men, with their quaint foreignness. It isn't until the arrival of Jewish, German, mother and daughter refugees that we see the plot evolve into a plethora of conflicts, including the fiercely loyal German struggling with her own treatment at the hands of her beloved home land and her dislike of her accidental, inhospitable new home. That particular aspect allows the use of some rather unusual cinematography credited as 'insect' photography.
There is much to like about this film. The study of women in particular appealed to me. The strong serene Dorothy quickly became my heroine and in comparison with the embittered Jewish mother and her sexually maturing, inquisitive daughter was easily the most likeable.
If you are looking for a fast paced story, don't bother with this. If you want a story rich with studies of human beahviour, particularly under stress, then this little Australian gem is sure to please. The multi-layered plot never overwhelms the senses, instead it directs you to think about our complexities as humans and our treatment of each other.
How's that Bosch? Did I pass?
