Bello eh però due palle Gianfrà mamma mia...

*Visto alla 77a mostra del cinema di Venezia*
Non dico che non sia valido, anzi. Sonoro e fotografia spettacolari però non mi è piaciuto.

PS. Il mio cuore va al genio che sulla bacheca delle recensioni ha scritto "Arrestate Gianfranco Rosi". Poesia

Pretty to look at and a lot to think about but with barely any talking heads or narrative to take us through any of these gorgeous images, the end result feels empty and a waste of time.

Quick notes from Venice: slow-moving observational documentary that shows how ISIS and the war on terror has changed the lives of those living in the Middle East. With very few dialogues and gorgeous wide nocturnal shots, this is bound to bore audiences and it won't change your feelings towards Rosi. I really liked it, and found it beautiful and powerful in its deceptive simplicity.

A film that arrives after a post colonial nightmare and just observes life as it has to go on. How one feels about Notturno probably goes down to how one feels about Rosi's direct cinema approach relates to this specific subject matter. I can understand some misgivings about it, but his expansive very empathic gaze has rarely being put to such good use.

NOTTURNO is a visually stunning portrait of the residual effects of the war-torn Middle East. Filmed in various locations along the borders of Iran, Lebanon, Kurdistan and Syria, the viewer is dropped into other people’s stories; some of which are absolutely heartbreaking. This may not be some people’s cup of tea as there isn’t narration to guide the viewer through the film. But I found the snippets of people’s lives that were presented to be enough.

(TIFF20 Film #24)

Color correction e torture porn

Not only does Notturno look incredible, the shots aren’t just there for decoration; they show this world with a reverence and respect, showcasing the beauty of a part of the world often overlooked or shown only in disarray. Outside of nature docs, I can’t think of a documentary that has such gorgeous imagery as this one. 

The stark contrast between the constant undertone of warfare with the peaceful lives these people want is pressing. I felt the focus on impactful decisions made in the past, forcing people now to live with the consequences, was addressed well, especially when demonstrating how this trauma is then passed down to the next generations.

A meditative examination of the long-term impacts that ISIS has in the Middle East. An achingly slow film, but one that shows the true emotions of the individuals living in the area. It’s a gorgeous film overall, and a very important documentary that shows the true impact that the conflict in the Middle East has had.

Visuals were gorgeous but I’m starting to think observational documentaries just aren’t my jam.

It's meandering more than surveying. Inexplicably abandons subjects that seem promising and focuses on others that don't hold your attention. It manages some bright spots: the sequences at the asylum where they're putting on a play; the children talking to the grief counselor. But this ultra-observational style is just too detached.

This documentary presents life as people have been living it in the war and terror zones of Syria, Kurdistan, Iraq and Lebanon. Director Rosi spent three years creating spectacular visuals, mostly dawn shots rich with shadows and light (has a documentary ever won the cinematography Oscar? This one definitely should be a candidate.) It was all edited without much coherent context and with almost no political axe to grind except for a universal disparagement of the off-screen terror from the mostly defeated ISIS. But despite constantly feeling that I wish I knew more specific details about what I was watching, I was still caught up in the emotionally fraught, simultaneously beautiful and terrifying images, and the accompanying soundtrack of raw nature occasionally interrupted by the staccato of distant gunfire.

Well, as I expected, Rosi is not an author for me. A torment.

Visually stunning (almost like a nat geo photo essay come to life) vignettes of life in this war torn region. Just wish we could go deeper into some of the people’s lives.

O Rossi είναι της σχολής του παρατηρητικού ντοκιμαντέρ, χωρίς να αφήνει voiceover ή έστω καν πολλά λόγια να αμβλύνουν την δύναμη των εικόνων του. Αυτό έχει το υπέρ ότι σίγουρα η οπτική του μεταφέρεται άμεσα και ανόθευτα στον θεατή, έχει όμως και το κατά ότι αρκετές φορές προκύπτει αποσπασματική και ασύνδετη. Παρόλα αυτά, οι κατά στιγμές αποπνικτικά πανέμορφες εικόνες έρχονται όντως σε ειρωνική αντίθεση με την φρίκη του πολέμου, όσο ο καμβάς του Rossi προσπαθεί να συμπεριλάβει όσο περισσότερους καθημερινούς πρωταγωνιστές γίνεται, από τον άμαχο πληθυσμό κάθε φύλου και ηλικίας μέχρι τους στρατιώτες (επίσης κάθε φύλου) που ζουν σε ένα καθεστώς συνδυασμού θανάσιμου κίνδυνου και αφόρητης βαρεμάρας. Υπάρχουν εκλάμψεις ιδιοφυίας εδώ (πχ τα αυτοκίνητα που διασχίζουν τον πλημμυρισμένο δρόμο ή η ιστορία του νεαρού αγοριού που ξυπνάει τα χαράματα για το μεροκάματο στο πλάι του κάθε κυνηγού), θα ήθελα όμως μια έστω κάποια ισχυρότερη συνεκτική αφηγηματική γραμμή.

Imperfect, but the clash of the aesthetic beauty captured by Rosi's empathetic camera with the dueling poles of human survival and looming chaos is quite compelling despite the film's static nature and near-superhuman ability to render it all as quietly as possible.

in his little q&a after this screening, rosi said “i never ask questions, i never give answers”. notturno depicts diverse moments—ordinary and extreme—with, somehow, intimacy and distance. it’s remarkable how the movie shows its viewers such beautiful moments without pointing at them directly, it really lets us observe. i thought it was all quite mesmerizing

also: it’s cool for a documentary to show this region of the world not as a subject for study but as a place that can just exist. it’s not about you, just step back and watch

Beautiful visual experience from Rosi. A true believer that you can make a movie as documentary and a documentary as a movie. Insane one-man crew film.

Powerful, poetic, and immersive, Notturno is one of the most naturalistic and humanist portraits of war-torn Middle East that I’ve ever seen. This film is living proof that a documentary can be slow and quiet and still be engaging. 

I did not expect this to be as visually striking as it is. It blows my mind how the director managed to make the film feel so raw with shots so flawlessly composed. It is definitely not for everyone, for it has little to no dialogue, leaving you alone to interpret and feel these images as you wish. In another mood or on another day, I could have easily disappeared into it much more, but today I was just not in the right mindframe to sink into it and righfully appreciate it for the masterpiece that it is. After all, Notturno is not your typical documentary. It is a spiritually rewarding piece of art.

Interesting take to focus on daily life in a warn torn area instead of taking a political stance. But it didn't really hold my interest