Film

Genova (2008)

Director: Michael Winterbottom

Synopsis

The British director shot this grief-tinged ghost story in Italy last summer. Written by Laurence Coriat (‘Wonderland’), it stars Colin Firth and Catherine Keener.

Movie review

From Time Out Online

Comparable to ‘Nine Songs’ in its low-budget charm and intimacy, this reunites Winterbottom with ‘Wonderland’ writer Laurence Coriat (also an uncredited scribe on last year’s ‘A Mighty Heart’). Colin Firth is an American lecturer and father of two young girls, all three of whom are knocked for six when their mother dies suddenly, prompting a move across the Atlantic to the Italian sea port and a fresh start. Once in Italy, each reacts to their grief in a different way, whether putting on a brave face, suffering ghostly apparitions or embracing the sun, sea and sex of the Mediterranean. Coriat’s sympathies for the experiences of the two teenage girls translate especially well, while Firth gives a relaxed, moving performance and Winterbottom and regular DP Marcel Zyskind effectively suck up the romance and claustrophobia of the city.

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