Respiro Movie Review 2002

Grazia (Golino--the only professional in the cast) does not fit into the usual life of the small Sicilian fishing village of Lempedusa. Although devoted to her husband Pietro (Amato) and their children, Grazia's emotions are volatile (even by Italian standards)--maybe she needs professional help? When Pietro tries to send his wife to Milan for treatment, she runs away to hide out in a local cave, depending on her 13-year-old son Pasquale (Casisa) to protect her. The film replaces reality (the fact that Grazia has a mental illness) with poetics (she's really just a free-spirit) but you'll be lulled by its charms. Italian with subtitles.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 95 minutes.
Originally from Italian, French.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Island Fare, Family Ties, Go Fish, Sanity Check

Screenplay

Emanuele Crialese

Cast

Valeria Golino, Vincenzo Amato, Francesco Casisa, Veronica D'Agostino, Filippo Pucillo, Muzzi Loffredo, Elio Germano

Cinematography

Fabio Zamarion

Director

Emanuele Crialese

Music

John Surman

Other

Pierre-Yves Lavoue, Didier Ranz, Beatrice Scarpato, Eva Coen

Producer

Domenico Procacci, Fandango, Roissy, Medusa Film, Les Films de Tournedos, Telepiu, Sony Pictures Classics