Review of Respiro (2002) by Bhavic N — 14 Aug 2007

I'd just seen Crialese's "The Golden Door" a few weeks prior to watching this, but Respiro is a superior work. Golino was suitably unpredictable in her role, but Vincenzo Amato, Francesco Casisa and Fillipo Pucillo are amazing. The younger pair in particular are amazing, precocious yet eloquent, and I was stunned, having just seen all three of them four years on in The Golden Door. Pucillo in particular - an astounding difference between his character in these two movies.

There's a third, very important character in this movie, and that's the rustic paradise that is allowed to play a vital role through the engaging cinematography.

This movie is elegant yet coarse, flowing yet abrupt. Sometimes even aside the plot and the portrayal, a movie can be something heartful at its core.