SOUND UNSEEN FF REVIEW: Alexander Jeffery’s MOLTO BELLA gives great chemistry and dialogue in romanticore film
Mumblecore is often a pejorative, assigned to films that prioritize talky ponderousness over plot and character. With Alexander Jeffery’s Molto Bella, a film inspired by the likes of Before Sunrise and other fly-by-night romantic dramas, the term oughta be re-branded as Romanticore. The film, which recently screened at the Sound Unseen film festival, is a quiet, calm, peaceful ninety minutes of two lovely, artistic people talking and walking the cobblestone streets of Terramina, Italy and, inevitably, falling in love.
Hal Flynn (Paul Peterson) is an aspiring writer, a young man looking for a much-needed retreat after the death of his mother has left him wondering what could be regarding his talent for the written word. In Iowa, he’s merely the co-owner of a print shop with his brother. In Italy, he’s looking for more, for that inspiration that will kick his writing career into high gear. He finds it in semi-famous musician Josie Day (Andrea Von Kampen), so far a one-hit wonder but looking for her next song among the villas and volcanoes of Terramina. They meet-cute by a river scene, Hal initially believing her to be a mere stranger singing a damn good cover of Josie’s famous song. He quickly discovers she’s the real Josie Day and the both of them bond over wine, photos, insecurity, and artistic pursuits.
Hal doesn’t believe in himself. He has talent to spare but lacks the bravery to pursue his most-wanted profession of poetry and literature full-time. Josie believes in herself, but is also cowering under the pressure of producing something as great as her first hit. They both need each other to push the other to greater heights. Molto Bella is probably the most platonic love story I’ve ever seen, sans films that are about pure friendship. There is barely physical affection shared between the two of them, although it’s never up for debate whether these two share feelings for one another. This is a film about connection through conversation, love expressed through song and dance and seriously good poetry.
It wouldn’t be possible to relate to a character as much as I relate to Hal. As an aspiring screenwriter, I have often needed my wife or other people in my life to push me to believe in myself, and now more than ever as I reach the ten-year mark since graduating from college. A little over a year ago I lost my mother to multiple sclerosis. Much like Hal’s motivation for a writer’s retreat, her passing led me to devote more time, effort, and focus than ever to realizing my goals. When it’s revealed that a photo of a young woman in Hal’s pocket is neither ex-girlfriend nor current girlfriend, but an old picture of his mother, kept there to remind him of his true quest…it’s safe to say I was quite moved on a personal level.
Peterson and Von Kampen enjoy wonderful chemistry together. Molto Bella wouldn’t work were it not for their charming, endearing turns as artists in love and mostly ignorant to it. Hal’s writing is sometimes genuinely enlightening and Josie’s voice is unmistakably easy on the ears, so any time you might tire of watching these two walking and talking, know there’s always a verse or two around the corner that’ll catch you by surprise. Predictably, some complications and contrivances ensue to pull them apart. Although such plot turns can be mildly aggravating, there’s never any doubt that we’re watching a feel-good story, not a feel-bad story. For good or bad, it’s a testament to how involving the narrative is (and how well director Jeffery manipulates his audience) that by the end we’re left wanting more of this burgeoning relationship.
