Review 1-
What I found the most interesting was the relationship between Matteo and his brother Nicola. At the beginning of the film, I thought that their storylines would be the opposite based on their initial personalities. Matteo seemed like more of the school-oriented person who had a unique perspective of society while Nicola seemed like less of the rule breaker who valued order and logical things. This can be seen in both character's initial career paths. Therefore, when Matteo took the more authoritative route and Nicola took the humanitarian one it was a little bit of a shock. While at first glance, they might seem like they are two different kinds of people based on their appearance and life choices I do think that they share a similar connection. Matteo needed something to give him order and purpose. His temperament often made him stick out especially next to his brother so he turned to a place where no one sticks out and that temperament issues may be embraced. Nicola on the other hand just wanted more from life and to understand the world. He had emotional intelligence but wanted to see how he could apply it beyond academia. However, in the end, they both to some degree want the people around them to be happy and they want to help society. I think that this is what ultimately binds the two brothers together.
They may represent different sides of the story and not agree on certain things but they have a level of respect for one another and understand each other's values. I also think that is why people outside of their relationship don't really understand them as seen in the scene with Giulia and Matteo. This is why I hoped that we would get a little more insight into their family dynamic at home. It's clear that neither of them wants to go home but they share a special connection and ensure each of them stays in the other's life for some reason. Since this is only a portion of the movie I'm sure these themes will come to make more sense in the end which is what I hope.
Review 2 -
One theme I thought was fascinating during this section of the film came from Nicola with the visit from his brother Matteo. When Nicola discusses his work and why he works with those who have mental illness he describes people who are schizophrenic as being split in half. However, he argues that we are all that way in some way therefore they are still people. They are still human despite being labeled as "crazy". I think this shows a big part of his personality but also a bigger theme within the movie. Nikola is a person who sees the good in everyone. He sees the good in his authoritative and rule-abiding brother and the good in his radical partner. This may be the influence of the summer trip he had around Europe at the beginning of the movie but I think it adds to the greater idea that we all have our own problems. We are filled with both virtue and vice and can never be perfect. However, we are all human and that is normal.
Even though Matteo struggles with his temperament Nikola sees the humanity in him which is shown when he leaves the room for Matteo to talk to Giorgia. Matteo freaks out at the thought of being with Georgia alone but Nicola trusts him despite his temperamental history with her and knows that he has the tools to help Georiga talk and continue her rehabilitation. I think this is a powerful trait that Nicola poses which is used to take advantage of Giulia. Giulia was not happy with her family because family was not something that she had planned for or originally wanted. She wanted to be free and radical. When she continues to ask Nikola to let her go despite his asking for answers she uses his morals against him and ultimately gets to leave. She knew deep down inside it would be against Nicola's way of being to not grant her that freedom. I think this is why he then struggles with his daughter and Matteo with that same thought of freedom. He is often the person that grants people their freedom but what could that mean for himself in the end with his family and his own personal struggle?
Review 3 -
Love is seen throughout the movie and I think is one of the greater themes that is represented through the characters and what they represent. This theme also connects to two of the ideas mentioned earlier regarding freedom and how all people are split in half in some way. For the people in the asylum to get granted freedom they needed to be loved. Nikola symbolized that through his actions of trying to criminalize electroshock therapy put also helped patients experiencing mental illness regain their livelihood. Even Georgia who seemed helpless throughout the movie was able to reach freedom through the love of Nikola and Matteo.
Love is also seen through Nikola and Matteo specifically. Throughout the film, it is very easy for people to love Nikola. He is very charming, outgoing, and empathetic. This love that he receives is what drives his morals and personality. It is the reason why he doesn't give up on Giulia despite her running away from the relationship and their child Sara. Conversely, Matteo is someone who does not receive as much love because of his personality and struggles to express his love for other people. However, it is still clear that love is what he longs for and tries to show other people. Love is what often drives his emotional outbursts despite them seeming harsh and cold-hearted. I think more love is what Matteo ultimately needed in the end. Despite recognizing his Mothers love for him toward the end of the movie it was not enough for him to make the decision to keep living. However, I think if people had shown him more kindness and patience (love) throughout his life he might have been able to make better decisions for himself and might have not felt that suicide was not the answer.
Love is what provides closure for the characters at the end of the movie. Sara needed closure from her mother. Matteo's mom needed closure from his death and so did Nikola. Despite what Giulia did and how angry Sara was at her mother as a child she still wanted her in her life in some way. This longing for closure came from her wanting to know if her mother still loved her. Even though Giulia was not ready to be in Sara's life full-time or even have her stay the night Sara took what she could get and stayed despite her mother's stubbornness. It was clear that she became more healed after this happened and even though her mother told her she would not see her till the baby was born Sara was okay with that. Matteo's Mom was able to get the closure she needed when she was able to meet Andrea and also stay on the island with him. Being with Andrea allowed her to be with Matteo again and give him her undivided attention which healed her. Andrea and Mirella were also able to provide Nikola with the closure he needed to come to terms with his brother's death.
Ultimately, Love is the message and is what the world needs more of. I think that is the reason why this movie is timeless and is still relevant today. People need to be loved and we should all show each other just a little bit more kindness. Doing so could have a lasting impact we did not think we all needed.
Aaron Trinidad
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