Carlo Mazzacurati
La Giusta Distanza

LA RECENSIONE

The Right Distance

A film by Carlo Mazzacurati

Starring Giovanni Capovilla, Ahmed Hafiene, Valentina Lodovini, Giuseppe Battiston, Roberto Abbiati, Natalino Balasso, Stefano Scandaletti, Mirko Artuso, Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Marina Rocco.

Genre Dramatic, color, 106 minutes.

Production Fandango - Italy 2007 - Distribution 01 Distribution

Italian province on the Po delta; Mara is a young teacher who arrives there somewhat by chance, much like "by chance" Hassan, a Tunisian mechanic, is accused of her murder.

The story, set in a foggy little town where everyone is good except the old psychopathic teacher and the Tunisian immigrants, develops into a crescendo of opposing feelings: the fear of the different, the distrust and suspicion of Mara, which then turns into love for a man and a foreign, prejudiced culture.

Meanwhile, partly out of castration, partly out of boredom, many have noticed Mara: the wealthy tobacconist, the young bus driver about to get married, and Giovanni, a nineteen-year-old budding journalist. It will be the boy, by stepping beyond the right distance, who will reveal the mystery of Mara's murder.

All of this is described with a simple and engaging language, often slow as the locations of the film suggest, yet never trivial, even though Mazzacurati risks falling into respectability, in the "social guilt" conveniently attributed always to foreign immigrants.

The young Valentina Lodovini is excellent, making her character real with the right balance of naivety, sensuality, and irony. A special mention also for Natalino Balasso who perfectly plays Franco, a technician responsible for telephone connections and more...