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Quiet Chaos (2008)

Director: Antonello Grimaldi

3

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Movie review

From Time Out New York

At home in Italy, the rabbinic-looking Nanni Moretti has the status of a young Woody Allen. Here, he’s a professional griever. The Son’s Room, Moretti’s 2001 Cannes winner, had its star coping with filial death. Now, Quiet Chaos (uncertainly helmed by Antonello Grimaldi) casts him as a dad who returns home from the beach to find his wife collapsed on the patio, surrounded by slices of melon. His character, Pietro, immediately attaches to his preteen daughter (Yoshimi), taking her to school and staying outside until she emerges. His day job, something to do with a business merger, takes a backseat to the little girl and, as the weeks pass, friends begin to worry.

The scenes between Moretti and his young costar are tender, unsentimental and true to the evasions of a difficult subject. He reads her stories in bed and she interrupts him to explain what a palindrome is. Unfortunately, though, Quiet Chaos can’t help but become heated, and a ridiculous climax—involving a lengthy bout of MILF sex, a runaway dog and (I kid you not) a Roman Polanski cameo—sabotages much of the emotional weight. Healing takes many forms, granted. But this upended family was coming along nicely one-on-one.

Author: Joshua Rothkopf 2009-06-23 19:49:22

Time Out New York Issue 717: June 25 - July 1, 2009

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User reviews of this film

  • Anonymous said...
    Posted on Jul 04 2009 09:38 I am very angry how women are portrayed in this film. As well, the above photo is from a very misplaced, "unnecessary" sex scene that takes place while the daughter is sleeping within very close quarters. This makes absolutely no sense at all except to portray this man as self absorbed and self centered. Throughout the film he is officially "waiting" for his daughter outside of the school, his apparent focus is on his daughter, in actuality it is on his self - an empty hearted man, I can't get a sense of who he loves or what motivates him. Moretti, is a brilliant actor and portrayed this perfectly as well the little girl did fantastic. However women are used and objectified or dead. I "love" the bit with the beautiful 20 year old who remains flirty with Moretti's character, really? There are young women out there who pursue men 20 years older than themselves, but basically this is pure FANTASY on the part of the director or whomever through that bit in. The verbal meanderings that continue back and forth about the merger are a WASTE of TIME. Its a PITY, where are the good films? This is praised this film and besides the great performance, it does not hold up.
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  • Isabella said...
    Posted on Oct 23 2008 09:34 In reply to Dave's comment on the awkard use of songs in this film, and to contextualise the music choice, it is worth saying that these songs have a special function in the novel the film is based on. Radiohead, Wainwright and Stars were the choice of the writer. Using the same soundtrack as the book indicates a clear decision of Moretti and the director, the two screenwriters of this film, to keep the same music as the character in the novel listens to.
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Quiet Chaos

Cast & crew

Director: Antonello Grimaldi

Cast: Nanni Moretti, Valeria Golino, Isabella Ferrari, Alessandro Gassman, Blu Mankuma, Blu Di Martino, Silvio Orlando, Hippolyte Girardot full cast

Rated: NR

Duration: 105 mins

US Release: Feb 8 2008


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