What a stunning surprise! In the midst of a lackluster Los Angeles/Italia Film Fest, a genuine gem of a film. The story of Karlo the Venetian bandit is told in broad chronological strokes but with a passionate eye for the intimate, human details. The film is dominated by a strong visual landscape, a powerful score and extraordinary faces. Pierluigi Coppola a new name in the film world that I'm sure is here to stay plays the "K" of the title with an overwhelming sense of self. Coppola was present at the showing and I could never have guesses he was the same person I saw on the screen. He was dressed in punkish fashion with heavy dark eyeshadow. On the screen he is mesmerizing as is the rest of the cast. Lina Sastri, as the tragic mother is, quite simply, superb. She captures every moment she's in with an unsentimental earth shattering emotion and Martina Stella as the long suffering wife is a tragic waifish portrait of a woman in love with a man who's bound to drag her down with him. The film, announced for a 9:45 pm showing started at 11 pm but the theater was packed. The film received a richly deserved long heartfelt applause. Bravo!
