The Garden of the Finzi-Continis

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lanfranco c Life is going toward a terrible destiny. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review William L As the most talked-about tragedy of the definitive war of the 20th century, the Holocaust has been endlessly approached, dissected, picked apart, and analyzed in film. As a subject, it's been attacked in all angles, styles, and perspectives. Though as a viewer, it's not necessarily wise to compare films rather than just appreciating them for what they are, but the sheer number of projects that focus on the subject almost demands that kind of treatment, and in considering The Garden of the Finzi-Continis among the many other Holocaust dramas, it's just a well-made but unsurprising film. There is an interesting perspective in tying the relentless optimism of young love with the tentative hopefulness of Jewish families considering their social positions in emerging Fascist Italy, but the "maybe the Nazis/Fascists/insert regime here won't be too bad; oh no, they were bad" is used endlessly in creating narratives of this type. All of it sets up an inevitable disillusionment that can be seen in the first ten minutes, which often takes away from the incremental moments that are intended to build up some sort of impact. De Sica and cinematographer Guarnieri employ a soft focus for most of the film's shots, imparting a visual counterpart to the film's subjects that also see the world with a hopeful perspective, and make creative use of time jumps/flashbacks, but most of the film relies on comparisons such as: the Fascists are making us wait to be deported in the same schoolroom in which I attended the sixth grade, how tragic. The Holocaust was a horrific event and must be commemorated effectively, but this doesn't seem like the most well-made film to do it. (3/5) Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/26/21 Full Review s r 1001 movies to see before you die. This was a soap-opera based around WW2 with a focus on Jewish Aristocracy. It was entertaining, but ultimately not one I need to see again. It was full of cheese and melodrama. It was on youtube. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member La delicatezza sprigionata dal film di De Sica è frastornante, ti lascia di stucco la semplicità con cui racconta gli eventi e le persone intorno al giardino in questione. La spirale di restrizioni che si fa sempre più avvolgente intorno ai protagonisti porta ad un finale raccontato con semplicità e senza proclami. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member El jardín de los Finzi-Contini [1971] Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review paul d This is one of a handful of great Italian films that allow us to experience the police state through the daily lives of a family and the intimate stories of individuals. It is an eloquent, beautiful, deeply moving film. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis

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