Prior to seeing this one, our line of thinking was a) this is a potentially very interesting topic, b) Adrien Brody is an excellent actor but c) 3h30 is a risky length for a movie and it has to be absolutely perfect from a screenplay perspective to keep us focused for that long.
So high expectations combined with a bit of concern.
Now, prior to actually seeing the movie, a huge discovery was made within our group. Let me give you a bit of context: the first Mostra I ever attended was the 56th (the current one is the 81st). That makes it 25. Though I have not been attending on a yearly basis since then, I would say that since 2007, I have barely missed one. That makes it at least 17 editions in a row. For these 17 years, I have been entering the Sala Grande through its RIGHT side entrance, barely acknowledging the existence of its left side entrance.
Yesterday, a sudden urge for a quick prosecco before sitting and watching the screen for 3h30, made us run inside through the LEFT side entrance. This resulted in a whole new world unraveling for me: it only took me 17 years to discover that there is a perfect viewpoint on the red carpet when entering from that side. The below picture is a material proof of it. Just when you were about to think that you knew it all…
I was still recovering from that shocking and belated discovery when the screening started. And that ended up being at least as exciting as our major 2024 left side revelation. Not only is the story fascinating (the American dream/nightmare of a Hungarian Jewish architect who survived the camps and attemps at starting a new life in the USA) but, as many already say around town, Adrien Brody might be up for a second Oscar with that one. He is literally close to absolute perfection.
Add to it a screenplay that hooks you to the plot from minute 1 until exactly minute 215 without giving you one second of rest and what you get is my first very strong potential candidate for this year’s golden lion. A must see!
Klara's cinema 