La Nostra Vita
Director: Daniele Luchetti
Stars: Elio Germano, Isabella Ragonese, Raoul Bova
Genre: Drama
Rate: 3 out of 5
La Nostra Vita excels as a showcase for Elio Germano who delivers a remarkable performance as a father in crisis even if the film becomes somewhat contrived as it lurches towards a conclusion. When his wife’s sudden death leaves him with two young boys and infant, Germano thrusts himself into work in an attempt to compensate for his single parent family through financial freedom. Unfortunately he works in a corrupt construction industry and gets in over his head in debts, delays, and one more untimely death. The film all builds to a comment about the importance of personal fulfillment over financial success, which is nice, but all of Germano’s problems are solved unrealistically quickly for a film striving for documentary realism. Fortunately, any screenplay inconsistencies are easy to ignore thanks to Germano’s emotionally raw, award-winning work. Worth seeing for the acting masterclass alone.
