MIFF MOVIE REVIEW: BLOOD OF MY BLOOD (SANGUE DEL MIO SANGUE)



8/10

In 17th century Italian convent a nun is accused of interacting with Satan when her priest lover commits suicide. Priest’s brother Federico comes to the convent to plead for his brother not to be ostracized and not to be buried on a donkey cemetery, where the suicide victims end up. His only chance is for the accused nun, Benedetta, to confess she had a pact with Satan to mislead his brother. As Benedetta goes through medieval  trials Federico struggles with his own passion towards the fallen nun. Is there a way for him to escape the seduction of flesh?

Flash forward to modern times, the same town, the same church is now a derelict building where a mysterious old man called Count Basta is hiding. He had disappeared from sight eight years ago, and now thought to be a vampire, only coming out at night. When his home is under threat of being sold to a wealthy Russian businessman, he is forced to come out to sort out this problem. What he sees is the world he struggles to accept. But even with the modern globalisation  no priest or vampire can withstand the eternal beauty of love.

BLOOD OF MY BLOOD is made by Italian master Marco Bellocio, a cult figure in italian cinema. Raised catholic, his many films focus on church, its shortcoming and influence on people and the time itself. Giving us two seemingly unrelated stories, he switches between the serious and sarcastic without damaging the atmosphere or credibility. For a viewer it is a bit of a challenge, because one will have to have a certain trust in a filmmaker, whose real goal is taking you on an emotional journey, instead of giving all the answers.

The movie is slow, but gloriously shot. The transfer to the modern time could have happened more seamlessly, and a bit of a shock to an unprepared – the story of the tested nun is very engaging if you allow it and you would want to know what had become of her. 

Both storylines are given brief but satisfying endings, however you would want to discuss them with someone when the credits will roll. This is the film you should be watching in the company of a fellow movie lover!

The movie is said to have conflicting reviews from both international and Italian audiences, however in the end it all comes down to an individual. BLOOD OF MY BLOOD is unlikely to come to Australia in general release, but it’s a thinking person movie that will stay with you for a long time.

QUICK FACTS

Town of Bobbio where movie takes place is a director’s hometown and features in his many films;

The story of the nun Benedetta is based on the real case of 16th century "Nun of Moza" who had been walled inside her convent for many years;


A cover version of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” is heard during the 17th century story ark of the film and does not feel at all out of place;

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We'll End Up Together - Nous Finirons Ensemble (French Movie Review)

Image
10/10 Max has a sixtieth birthday coming up. The problem is he is broke, divorced and depressed. When a group of his best friends show up at his doorstep to help him celebrate, he reluctantly agrees to spend a few days with them, but won’t explain what’s going on in his personal life. When ones darkest moments come, will friendship conquer all? Seven years after the breakout success of the film Little White Lies (Les Petits Mouchoirs) comes the long anticipated sequel and it is worth the wait. The success of WE’LL END UP TOGETHER is not in its rather predictable plot, but the chemistry on screen, the characters that we recognise ourselves and our friends in, and the amazing warm atmosphere that makes one believe there’s no problem a good dinner with friends won’t sort out.  Written and directed by much loved French actor and director  Guillaume Canet this movie feels like a welcome return home to those who have seen the original and will also welcome new viewership - the film c
Read more

KOREAN MOVIE REVIEW: MEMOIR OF A MURDERER

Image
8/10 Byung-su is an elderly veterinarian who has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He has a caring daughter who does all she can to make his life easier, and a policemen friend whose name Byung-su forgets from time to time. He also goes to a poetry club (in order to keep his mind exercised) where a lonely widow makes advances at him. But there’s one thing that sets Byung-su apart from the other senior citizens of his little town – he is a serial killer.  When a new wave of killings begin Byung-su starts to suspect that a young man who is dating his daughter is the culprit. Trying to keep the remains of his memories together Byung-su writes extensive journals. But what if his memories are actually real? Losing his grip on reality he goes head to head with the new serial killer in order to protect the only life he cares about in the world – his daughter’s. Before Dexter came around Koreans had excelled in creating charismatic killers as protagonists of the films
Read more

MSFF: DEATH IN BUENOS AIRES (MUERTE EN BUENOS AIRES)

Image
3 1/2 /5 It's year 1980 and we are in Buenos Aires. The wealthy gay man is murdered  and inspector Chaves is on the case. In order to find the culprit he has to plunge into the world of gay nightclubs, drugs and sex. But what is it with the young and handsome officer Gomes, who was the first on the crime scene, and seems to place himself with ease as a mole into a gay community? Is he trying to catch the killer? Or hiding something? As suspicions arise, Chaves is haunted by the feelings he does not understand. Will the fatal attraction to a younger man help him to solve the case, or be his undoing? First time director Natalie Meta is "spot on" on the upbeat atmosphere of the 80s without too much expense. She cleverly uses the pop tunes, over-the-top clothes and many other ingredients to recreate the time. The murder mystery is secondary, and the movie is focused on the relationship between the two men, full of innuendoes and mistrust. The very simple cinema
Read more