quiet chaos

or in italian caos calmo - the opening subtitle is calm chaos
but all the publicity, reviews etc refer to it as quiet chaos
a moot point but by the end of it calm seemed better
the film opening on a beach in italy with 2 brothers
drawn in to the surf to rescue 2 women in trouble
then the drive back to their villa and more drama
pietro's wife has fallen and died during his absence
leaving him to care for their young daughter claudia
no real emotion shown by each other as they move on
father then finds some solace in sitting outside her school
he's a power-broker in a company about to be taken over
but this change in his life forces a re-think of priorities
other regular visitors to the park drawing his curiosity
his interest in corporate life seen waning at a similar rate
his work acquaintances, friends and family track him down
so plenty of people coming and going with their stories
and from this we learn more about him as a person
including why he is having trouble grieving for his wife
it all sounds quite inconceivable but how do we know
the suggestion being that grieving is a personal thing
no-one can or should determine how others should react
especially in this case where there are many complications
as each person provides support, advice and some secrets
thankfully his daughter is well protected and immune to all this
the relationship with her father and uncle keeping her safe
but something has to give as his life catches up with him
eventually in a quiet moment of quiet solitude he cracks
so his calm demeanour is finally and briefly lost in the chaos
sheds the tears possibly more for his past life than past wife
and symbolically resumes normal life with a torrid sex scene
this with one of the women he rescued also connected to his work
he then snares a new job courtesy of her ex-lover and his new boss
which is where this film lost me a bit - one coincidence too many
but overall i liked the possibility presented of a grieving man
unsure how to handle his grief but embracing those closest
and as it turns out his daughter is the one who saves him
she also symbolically advising him when all is well
and then life in rome returns to normal
snow falling - nice - a fresh start....