OK,this film is like a marshmallow,sugary,intense,then it's gone.Beautiful people,Bonham Carter and Maloney(yes he is handsome,I weirdly never forgot his intense owlish face as Prosper Profond),cavort around in 18th century Italy,in stunning masks,and theatrical costumes.At first I watched it,it took me to Italy for a brief period ,then it finished and I was back in West York(yay).However I watched it again,and something lingered in my mind,perhaps there is a message in this quiet little film,perhaps it is Iris who has the ugly soul,with the beautiful face.I do think it should be watched a few times to get that across,and it is obligatory to eat an Italian dish whilst watching this,it sort of completes the essence of another time and place.
2 Reviews
Beautiful Film , Guilty pleasure.
rlbrock-439852 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The cinematography is stunning. Eighteenth Century Italian summers of love have never looked more languorously beautiful. Which is helped by the breathtaking beauty of both the young Michael Maloney and Helena Bonham Carter ( Still equally beautiful now of course). Each scene and plot development is presented as a marvellous jewel, which sometimes lifts you away from Fflly engaging with the characters..
It is dubbed into Italian with subtitles, which although understandable is a shame given the young leads vocal and acting talents
Plot wise It's a bit of a flimsy thing, a dissolute handsome young nobleman, realising he can only win the admiration of the beautiful and interesting young actress he fancies, by revealing his true nature by device of almost mystical/ magical masks.
It's to be taken lightly and romantically, the supporting cast fit perfectly into the plot and setting.
The perfect film to escape into a romantic rose tinted Italy but it wouldn't do to stay there too long.
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