Meg

Watched this movie having NO IDEA it was based on the life of the author of Don Quixote. The airplane description DID NOT make that clear and I have never once cared to read the book. Almost stopped watching halfway through because it was gory and sad (not the vibe for a plane), and then realized it was actually a gay romance. Very happy I stayed for the ending. It was gut wrenching but beautiful. Now I guess I have to read Don Quixote…

I was going to wait until after lecture and section to leave my review, but I really don't want to sit on that ending. This was by far the best movie from the list so far. It was melancholic—nostalgic even—but not depressing. It was beautifully shot, but the decadence added to the plot. I thought the dialogue captured the heart of the book very well. It was introspective, but not enigmatic. The cast was absolutely stacked. I was warned multiple times about the ball scene and how it was boring, but that couldn't be further from the truth. There was always something going on, and Angelica was a real standout throughout the sequence, which is exactly what one should expect given her role as the face of the new upper class. I think I loved this movie because I love Sicily. Its architecture, people, and culture are beautiful. I took a course on the history of the island about a year ago, which covered from Greek Colonization to the Norman period. I wouldn't say I'm an expert on the island by any means, but I will point out that Sicily's geographical location has made it susceptible to so many different points of influence, and it is truly an ever evolving melting pot of Mediterranean culture, which somehow culminates into a distinct Sicilian culture. What I mean by this history spiel is simply that this movie pinpoints one time when a significant cultural change has happened within the island, which is really reflective of the nature of the island itself. This I find both beautiful and intimidating, and I consider the movie a great homage to Sicily's identity and legacy.

I appreciate that this doesn’t try to be more than what it promises. I think the first thing I read on the screen was “Wattpad”

What is Bertolucci’s obsession with incest? I don’t know his entire filmography, but the MAJORITY of what I do know involves incest. Also want to mention that the score is beautiful and dramatic and a highlight of the movie.