Il Vuoto (Italian) [Empty]

Told in a very theatrical mixed with cinematic style, this is an ode to star crossed lovers who are probably not destined to meet. It's a story of two men from two different backgrounds, who meet, fall in love, out of love and move on. There is a lot of abstract scenes in the film and the theatrical like approach may not be for everyone's liking. 

Theater actor, director, and coach Giorgio runs an acting class. His father is from a very wealthy family an the is very close to his mother and sister. The mother is going through some cancer or stuff like that. It seems like last time he went to Rome for mother's checkup , he met a nice guy Lucas and they both kept in touch. One day  a guy named Marco come to his class having been invited by his girlfriend Anna. The two men feel some connection and soon Giorgio starts giving him private classes and the two start to hang out. One night, Marco kisses Giorgio, who thinks Marco is likely curious. But Marco makes it clear, that he is very sure, that he has broken up with Anna and they remain on good terms. The two start dating and there is a period of happiness and content. Giorgio and his family have to go to Rome again for his mother's treatment. During this time, Marco's parents find out about Giorgio and Marco doesn't have the strength or bravery to face them. His mother forces him to start seeing Anna, so they can get married. Meanwhile, Giorgio is very confused by sudden absence of Marco and reduced talks and conversations. When he is back, Marco tells him everything and says that he needs to pretend to be with Anna but he loves Giorgio. There is a phase here Marco is with both Anna and Giorgio and he cannot keep up with it. He eventually decides to marry Anna, break up with Giorgio, who eventually decides to move to Rome to pursue his dreams of making it big and eventually becomes successful.

I have mixed feeling of the approach of this film in keeping  Shakespearen-era storytelling and techniques into a contemporary setting.  In several instances, the lead characters make asides, statements meant for themselves and the audience, not heard by those around them. The staging is similarly theatrical, with recurring abstract scenes set in undefined space, as expressionistic images that would feel commonplace on stage, and on film all the more striking. And this approach sometimes leads to performances as well. Giorgio's sister is forever on caffeine and hyper. Marco's mother is full on homophobic person, which feels weird for this day and age and in Italy. Snooping  through her adult son’s room to monitor his love life seems like form the 90s. Also clearly Anna knows what is going on, so we never know why is she getting into marriage with someone who will eventually likely break her heart. It is understood that the two young lovers are fated to not be together, but the emotional strain feels unjustified. The ultimate reasons pulling them apart – economic agency, and Matteo not having the means to live on his own if his parents kick him out – come out very late and underdeveloped. Towards the end Giorgio tells someone at a bar that he has been with Marco for 5 years, and I was like, when did this happen? It felt like just a few months. The story is simple, and it's the treatment that makes it a different combination of classic and contemporary. An old-fashioned romantic tragedy that may or may not work for you. For me, it worked only in bits and pieces. There was too much drama for my liking. (5/10)