“Nostalgia” competed for the Palme d’Or this past May at Cannes. Martone’s film was a surprise inclusion for competition. People were mostly expecting it to land at Venice, but something happened. Obviously, if Thierry Fremaux invites you to Cannes then you go, even if you have to shun your home country’s prestigious film festival. The film was clearly a personal one for Martone as his main protagonist returns to his hometown of Naples after a 40-year absence. He visits his ill mother, rediscovers the places he knew, and the hidden codes of the city etc. An Italian I spoke to at Cannes believed Fremaux stole “Nostalgia” from Venice out of spite, taking away an Italian title from a well-known hometown director. What was its competition for the Italian submission? To tell you the truth, not that much. Much like in France and the United States, it’s been a weak year for quality cinema. Maybe Emanuele Crialese’s “L’Immensita,” or Felix Van Groeningen’s “The Eight Mountains”? “Nostalgia” currently has a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes with an 8.0 average rating (based on 11 reviews). Contribute Hire me
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