Closing off our coverage of the Venice Film Festival, we look at Ferzan Ozpetek’s “Un giorno perfetto”, or “A perfect day”, with Isabella Ferrari, Valerio Mastandrea, Valerio Binasco, Nicole Grimaudo, Federico Costantini, Monica Guerritore, Angela Finocchiaro, Stefania Sandrelli, Christian Serritiello, and Fausto Maria SciarappaThe film is out in cinemas after a mixed reception at the festival.
Some confusion occurred over whether the film was received with applause or not, any of which was directed at the cast before the film actually started.
In the end, despite some reports that hide the cold reception received by this film, the new Ozpetek film has not exactly impressed.
The director changes register throughout, following nine characters across one day in a film which should move and evoke anxiety.
The story of Emma and Antonio, interpreted by Ferrari and Mastandrea, give some moments of tension and blood-boil, but without really expressing emotion.
For a viewer, you can get lost in the overall theme, and there are moments of “recycling”, for example the tarot scene which recalls the film “Saturno Contro”.
Despite the good intentions of the film, it falls victim to a quasi-television style.
Our reviewer found it to be a disappointment, and it’s unlikely it will have a big following in Italian cinemas.