05 December 2009

Summertime

An absolutely devastating portrayal of a lonely middle aged woman.

Katherine Hepburn is a single woman on vacation in Venice, who initially resists, but ultimately succumbs, to the advances of an Italian stranger. The film is brilliant in its depictions of her isolation and yearning, and the way in which her initial instincts are gradually broken down by her desire for companionship. It's not an earth shattering movie by any means, but the scenes of her alone at a cafe, looking hopefully at the passing strangers, are incredibly poignant. There's an impressive attention to minor detail that makes the film really quite amazing in the way it manages to capture her as a character. Also, the shots of Venice are also absolutely gorgeous - I'd somehow forgotten what a beautiful city it is.

No comments: