Dark Love
Right off the bat I will say that Dark Love was not an easy film to sit through. From the beginning there was just something that rubbed me all wrong about it, and sure enough something shocking happened. But that isn’t the focus of the film; it deals with the aftermath for two characters. That aftermath dredged up all sorts of conflicting emotions and for me it was challenging and not easy. With that said, I am not saying this is not worth seeing. This film is very much worthy of your time, it is a really good one and it will make you feel.
Its subject matter is a tough one; a group of boys who have spent the day at the beach in Naples are riding around when they spot a young teenage girl. Whether it be the fact they were in a group, on alcohol and drugs or more they attack her and drag her away in what we can only imagine was a horrific violation. The boys are sentenced to an island prison after one of them Ciro feels remorse. The girl Irene struggles to deal with the trauma of what happened but her family seem to just want to put it aside. The film gives us the dual look, Ciro at the prison and Irene in her life, and how they both deal with it and eventually find communication through letters.
One of my favourite films is an Italian film called Scugnizzi (Street Kids), also set in Naples within a prison for boys. That film deals with all sorts of boys who have done a many number of things to wind up there. Their salvation and what gives them hope is a musical performance that their friends and family will see. They find some sort of redemption in being able to do something positive. The film is brilliant, and while these are very similar I think that one handles some of the issues much better. Part of the issue I had here (which is why I didn’t score it higher) was that writer/director Antonio Capuano seemed to think this was some kind of love story between victim and criminal. It is not at all, and for me it felt strange that this was the feeling I got from it. Irene and Ciro and their communication through his letters was more of a salvation for them and part of the healing and forgiveness they needed to do.
The rest of this film worked, it does not show the crime nor do we need to see it. As I said it is about the aftermath and how the two different characters deal with it. Ciro seemed to be very ignorant and through his creative expression he learns about life and himself. He feels alone, remorseful and one could imagine needs forgiveness from Irene. Irene is also very alone, despite her family and boyfriend being around. She is emotionally isolated, and it was really through Ciro’s letters that she was really able to come out and stare at what happened right in the face. She was trying before that, but it was the final burst she needed. Both stories are different; they have their highs and lows.
Gabriele Agrio was fantastic as Ciro, a difficult character to sympathise with or spend much time with. But once it is developed there is such sadness and confusion there and Agrio portrayed that all in such a mature way. As good as he is, Irene Dr Angelis is the stand out. Her performance is layered and complex and this girl did not skip a beat. It was difficult to watch her suffer the way she was, and for the most part it was like watching glass ready to shatter. The story focuses on these two characters and they are the ones that stand out and are really front and center. Those around them and supporting them are good but almost fade into the background.
This film is dark and depression but it is a good one, it is challenging and emotional. It is a brave piece, and I am glad to see things like this come out of Italian cinema.
Rating
Italian Trailer for L’amore Buio
The Super Network 