Il seme della discordia

Il seme della discordia posterIt’s not quite as succesful a release as Un giorno perfetto, but Il seme della discordia has been doing reasonable business in its opening week(it’s taken just under €300,000 as opposed to Un giorno perfetto‘s c€830). As a curious coincidence, both films feature Monica Guerritore (who’s definitely a very different actress now to how she was in films like Scandalous Gilda and Evil Senses) and Isabella Ferrari. The leads here, though, are Alessandro Gassman (Vittorio’s nipper) and Caterina Murino (who was in Casino Royale and St. Trinians!

This one is a comedy, directed by Pippo Corsicato, who’s had some domestic success – both critically and at the box office – with the likes of Chimera (2001). There’s a decent review in Screen Daily, to quote the beginning of which…

Neapolitan director Pappi Corsicato conjures up the spirit but little of the dramatic and thematic depth of his acknowledged master Pedro Almodovar in this bright but lightweight comedy-melodrama. But though its afterglow is short-lived, Corsicato’s amusing little film still came as a pleasant surprise at the end of a humdrum Venice. With its sexy Mediterranean attitude, kitsch production design and terrific retro soundtrack it represents a return to form for one of Italy’s least solemn indie auteurs.

A star turn from former Bond girl Caterina Murino proves that the Sardinian actress has a Sophia Loren-like talent for sexy comedy that has been notably lacking in previous heirs to the throne such as Maria Grazia Cucinotta. Murino’s uncomplicated sex appeal, together with some enjoyable supporting stints by Italian stars Alessandro Gassman, Isabella Ferrari and Martina Stella should make this September 5 release easily the best-received of Corsicato’s films on home ground, especially with the marketing muscle of top Italian distributor Medusa behind it. Elsewhere it will be more of a niche product, though with its irreverent pop Catholic aesthetic, Spain and Latin America could be key markets.

About Matt Blake 890 Articles
The WildEye is a blog dedicated to the wild world of Italian cinema (and, ok, sometimes I digress into discussing films from other countries as well). Peplums, comedies, dramas, spaghetti westerns... they're all covered here.

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