Martin Eden

Released Oct 16, 2020

2h 9m

History

Drama

Romance

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List

87%

111 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

After Martin Eden meets Elena, he tries to achieve a place among the literary elite through self-education.

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Critics Consensus

Martin Eden uses one man's quest for fulfillment as fuel for an ambitious -- and often rewarding -- look at a complex array of social and personal themes.

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Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

The film traces Martin's love affair with the pursuit of individual advancement. Like capitalism, it's seductive.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 12, 2021

Full Review

Guy Lodge

Film of the Week

In Italian star Luca Marinelli, he's cast a true-blue matinee idol as the tortured hero: in an extraordinary performance that matches brute physicality to soulful interior yearning, he carries the film on square shoulders.

Jul 9, 2021

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

So much narrative ambition can be enervating, but Marinelli's performance is mesmerizing. It helps that he is broodingly beautiful, somewhere between Brando and Belmondo

Jun 24, 2021

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Ben Flanagan

Vague Visages

“In ‘Martin Eden,’ the games that Marcello plays with form and structure coalesce into an immensely moving film, which — grounded by the standout turn from Marinelli — offers a new direction for the stale “Great American Novel” adaptation.”

Feb 10, 2024

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Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

... The film surpasses the story it tells to capably broach social and philosophical confines without ever overstating them. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 8/10

Jan 18, 2023

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Edward Porter

Sunday Times (UK)

As a kind of postmodern spin on a Visconti-type melodrama, the film is something to see. The storyline itself, though, is a bit tiresome in its old-fashionedness.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 6, 2022

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Alec B

I have a feeling this is less profound of an adaptation than the filmmakers think, that said I do appreciate the performances and the ending.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

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Jon T

This is a curiosity: I cannot really understand why people keep remaking this. The book is an exploration of the proto fascist ideas of Herbert Spencer who attempted to apply the survival of the fittest to human society. The eponymous hero is physically and mentally powerful so that he can flourish in a tough working class environment and conquers bourgeois society. He is a Spencerian Superman but it brings no fulfillment. All a bit weird if you ask me. The film feels disjointed and the underlying themes outdated. We have social security now for heavens sake.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/03/23

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aurora a

A movie masterpiece by director Pietro Marcello starring a very convincing and passionate Luca Marinelli. Jack London would be proud.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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isla s

This is a thoughtful watch - I was concerned it may be a bit too Les Miserables-esque, a film focussing purely on the pain of those far down the 'pecking order', which is the case in one respect but I actually thought this came across as a more hopeful film than I think I'd expected. Yes its about fighting against the opressive government/society/employers etc. 'the system' but its also a romance story and a story about a writer trying to find his feet (and his voice). The script is decent and I thought it was quite a gripping watch really. Yes, I would recommend this film, though its perhaps a bit of a challenging watch thematically but its certainly not entirely the gloom and doom I somehow imagined it to be (maybe I'm wearing rose tinted spectacles?). I also thought that Luca Marinelli gave a very good performance as the titular character.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

excellent italian reinterpretation of jack london

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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wayne m

Martin Eden is an ambitious, vibrant and bold film about a magnetic personality undergoing a journey of life. Based on the 1909 novel by Jack London this superb film has been moved to Naples, Italy. It's hard to pinpoint which era though as the technology changes through out the film. Eden is a sailor living a roustabout life with little education. He rescues a young man at the docks and is taken home to his family, the Orsinis. The Orsinis live a rich life of wealth and art and science. Eden falls in love with their daughter, Elena, and also vows to make himself educated and become a writer. The journey is a fruitful one and a long one. It's engaging and triumphant. The film is a heady mix of sex, politics and high idealism. All of which is anchored by a magnetic performance by Luca Marinelli. A film of high ambition and firm ideas.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Pietro Marcello

Director

Luca Marinelli

Martin Eden

Jessica Cressy

Elena Orsini

Denise Sardisco

Margherita

Carlo Cecchi

Brissenden

Vincenzo Nemolato

Nino

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Martin Eden: Trailer 1

2:08

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Synopsis

After Martin Eden meets Elena, he tries to achieve a place among the literary elite through self-education.

Director: Pietro Marcello
Producer: Alessio Lazzareschi, Michel Merkt, Dario Zonta
Screenwriter: Maurizio Braucci, Pietro Marcello
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: Shellac Sud, Regione Campania, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, Centre National du Cinéma et de L'image Animée, Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, Film Commission Regione Campania, RAI Cinema, L'Aide aux Cinémas du Monde, IBC Movie, Arte, Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR), Regione Lazio, Avventurosa, The Match Factory
Genre: History, Drama, Romance
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 24, 2021
Runtime: 2h 9m

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