The beautiful Italian drama, “A Casa Nostra” [Eng. Title: Our Country] is the product of keen observation of human behaviour, coupled with great story-telling. Contrary to some reviews that this could be better of a novel, I think the screenplay has been imaginatively designed for cinema, thanks to its director Francesca Comencini, who also co-authored the story.
The story follows at least eight different persons, many of them disconnected with the other, but whose paths cross organically as the film progresses. It is Milan in autumn, and all the main characters have issues of some kind, and are less than happy. While the film doesn’t rest too much hope on their salvation – it is unapologetically downbeat – it nevertheless is sympathetic to their concerns, and tries to make sense of their plight. The main strand around which these characters engage, is enterprising Police officer Rita’s attempts to bring local business tycoon Ugo to book for financial crimes. Around them you have Ugo’s deeply depressed wife Lucilla, his mistress and supermodel Elodie, and her secret lover Gerry, already married to a nurse, and Rita’s boyfriend Matteo. You also have Romanian prostitute Blanca, and Otello, a customer who falls in love with her. All these characters soon become relevant to the film’s theme, which is about reclaiming the right to dream of a better future.
The film is very well made with competent performances from all concerned – the direction, screenplay and editing is particularly impressive, as is the excellent cinematography, capturing Milan in its autumnal sadness. Recommended Viewing.
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Compilation: Valeria Golino, Laura Chiatti and Cristina Maria Suciu
I’ve joined several scenes from my DVD to make up this compilation. There may be only brief nudity in these scenes, but they’re striking nevertheless. Rita is played by the ever-gorgeous Valeria Golino, Elodie by the very pretty Laura Chiatti, and Blanca by the beautiful Cristina Maria Suciu.
Gorgeous stars like Valeria Golino, Laura Chiatti and Cristina Maria Suciu add spice to the Italian drama, “A Casa Nostra”.
Scene Guide:
- Rita with her boyfriend Matteo – she adores him but he’s unsure, and weary of committing fully to a woman whose job puts her at risk every day.
- Elodie with Gerry, a guy she just picked up at a restaurant. When they meet again, she’s in a bad mood after being asked to step aside for a fashion show. She asks him whether she is really that skinny to be rejected, and tells him that modelling isn’t actually her calling – it just happened, all she wanted to be was a singer, and she goes on to sing a famous song for him.
- Ugo gets wind of Elodie’s flings with Gerry, and in the middle of a show, pulls her to a room and has vengeful sex. Henceforth she will be out of his life.
- Otello invites Blanca for dinner – her simple words towards the end of the scene, “can I stay tonight?” tells everything there needs to be said.
- A comatose Blanca is cleaned up by the nurse – Blanca is also pregnant.
- Rita asks Matteo to stop and get some rest. Matteo’s mother had to be rushed to the hospital that night, and she isn’t keen on sex.
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Wonderful!