AMERICA LATINA comes from CINEMA OF ITALY season in the UK and is premiering on the 3rd of March. presents itself as a creeping thriller. A study in the slow unravelling of a man. Massimo (Elio Germano) is a lead dentist from Latina. He has a loving family, a gorgeous home and the happiest of marriages. After a hard day, he goes down to the cellar to get focus and to complete some urgent work. But down there he finds something disturbing. A little girl has been tied up and gagged. She has rubbish strewn around her and as he atttempts to untie her, she fights him before finally asking for his help. Confused, Massimo must find out why, who and When did all this happen.
Directors Damiano D’Innocenzo and Fabio D’Innocenzo (the D’Innocenzo’s to you and me) reveal a range of visual dexterity in their psychological thriller. They have obviously explored, watched and learnt from the Italian Giallo film and the current trend of American thrillers, that are doing the rounds. This is why the first act is so very good. Well shot. Well acted and delivers an unbalanced viewing experience that leaves you scrabbling. So they have talent. Some of this though is just good location selection. With such a lovely (and unique canvas) building as they had to film in exteriors and mirrored in the interior sets, its impossible not to have the space of things to support the piece. However, this doesn’t make up for a frankly ludicrous plot, the wasting of a very good premise and a lack of creativity in the second act of this film. I am trying to find positives here, which is why I wanted to highlight that delightful visual space but I cant escape (and an audience will not either) the sad lack of AMERICA LATINA being a one note wonder.
AMERICA LATINA screens as part of the CINEMA OF ITALY season 3rd -7th of MARCH
https://www.filmitalia.org/en/festival/60797/
