the wonders - la meraviglie - italian indie film time at nziff
grand prix winner at cannes 2014 - say no more - in we go
we have an italian/german family living in rural italy somewhere
milan is name-dropped at one point so we're in the northern part
man and wife - 4 daughters - one boarder - they need the money
they are carrying on a centuries old tradition of bee-keeping i.e. honey
gelsomina is the eldest daughter and border adolescent - focus of film
desperate to live up to her father's expectations and the apple of his eye
even the wife is side-lined when it comes to matters family - she the one
opening scenes and the simple requirement for a toilet visit by one girl
the whole family disturbed as a result and a reading between the lines
for one it's a small house they live in and significantly this film is real
they live near the coast and a dip in the sea is a favourite family outing
on one such adventure they encounter a film crew for a tv channel
they on the constant search for participants in their very popular show
gelsomina in particular starstruck by the sight of the talent show host
she being a beautiful, confident, blonde (wigged) commanding lady
back at home base we are taken through scenes of honey extraction
father and daughter in full suits and masks checking/unloading the hives
same inside the 'laboratory' - where machines spin the extracted trays
buckets placed manually below the machines to pool the liquid gold
times are tough so another boarder taken on - a german boy - martin
gelsomina and martin form a close bond - going through the same stuff
though he only speaks german so dialogue with this character is zilch
one interesting scene where gelsomina wakes her mother with a confession
but dad wakes also and wants to hear the story but gelsomina backs down
most likely she has enthusiastically volunteered the family for the talent show
mum and dad need to make a trip to milan to sort out some financial matters
leaving the gang to tend to the daily chores - including honey extraction
one of the daughters catches her hand in a machine and is off to hospital
but oops - in the panic they forget to put an empty bucket under the drain
a sticky mess found on their return as also the talent show selector calls
but nonetheless next we see the family in roman togas on a boat
filming of the show on an island and some very mediocre talent
the neighbours vocal harmony group and our family lead by dad
he is stage-struck useless so gelsomina and martin to the rescue
she has a trick of bees crawling from her mouth as martin whistles
odd - very odd - these scenes bordering on the ugly and absurd
all sorts of obscure references to italian history and lifestyle i think
martin gets lost on the island and a return trip by gelosmina next day
she finds him and the suggestion of a major step into adulthood is taken
final scenes sees the whole family re-united and lying outside their house
then they are gone - disappeared - life is very transitional is the message
a near 2 hour journey completed and not much to show for it
one could say typical french/italian theatre to the fore here
at the time - don't get it 100% - now - coming good
i.e. one of those films that continues to reverberate
it's going to be a love or hate film for most people
me - more unusual western european cinema
not sure it would be my pick for grand prix
the quirkiness pushed a bit too far for me
but - glad to have seen it nonetheless...
