Respiro

views updated

Respiro ★★ I Breathe; Respiro: Grazia's Island 2002 (PG-13)

Grazia (Golino—the only professional in the cast) does not fit into the usual life of the small Sicilian fishing village of Lempedusa. Although devoted to her husband Pietro (Amato) and their children, Grazia's emotions are volatile (even by Italian standards)—maybe she needs professional help? When Pietro tries to send his wife to Milan for treatment, she runs away to hide out in a local cave, depending on her 13-year-old son Pasquale (Casisa) to protect her. The film replaces reality (the fact that Grazia has a mental illness) with poetics (she's really just a free-spirit) but you'll be lulled by its charms. Italian with subtitles. 95m/C VHS, DVD . IT FR Valeria Golino, Vincenzo Amato, Francesco Casisa, Veronica D'Agostino, Filippo Pucillo, Muzzi Loffredo, Elio Germano; D: Emanuele Crialese; W: Emanuele Crialese; C: Fabio Zamarion; M: John Surman.