THE IGUANA
Synopsis: Based on the novel,¡°The
Iguana¡±, by Anna Maria Ortese (published by Adelphi), the film narrates the
adventures of Aleardo, a rich, dreamy Italian architect who, while travelling
for pleasure and work in a sailing boat, land on the remote island of Ocana.
Here three impoverished Portuguese aristocrats are living in dire poverty, cut
off from the world and thrown back to the nineteenth century. There is the
melancholy, tormented Ilario and his sinister half-brothers, Hipolito and
Felipe, together with a female servant they treat like an animal and
mysteriously call " Iguana". Fascinated by the extravagance of his hosts and
troubled by the suffering and charm of the young Iguana, Aleardo stays on the
island for a night and a day, during which time he is slowly drawn into an
intrigue with disturbing implications. Is Iguana really the latest
transformation of the devil (as the inhabitants of the island believe ) or is
she merely a victim, an innocent creature to be saved and protected at any cost?
Aleardo's journey becomes a hallucinating descent into hell.
MY BROTHER'S SUMMER
Synopsis: The film tells the
story of one summer in the life of Sergio, the only child of an upper middle
class family, who has a rich imagination and enjoys the full attention of his
parents.
Like every summer, Sergio and his parents go in their beautiful
country¡¯s house. Sergio founds there his own magical kingdom. This idyllic
lifestyle is interrupted when his parents announce the arrival of another child.
Sergio fantasies upon the arrival of this brother and he sees his fate as
tragic: he will have to give up his many privileges. This lead him to daydream
about killing his intrusive little brother. Unfortunately, his wishes come true
and his mother loses the baby. Sergio is overcome by guilt and obsessed by
images of his brother. He must negotiate for forgiveness from the imaginary boy.
Sergio finally sees the positive side of having a¡°best friend¡±. But sharing
his life and possessions with an imaginary human being becomes for him a foolish
sacrifice in the long run. At the end of the summer, Sergio realizes that he has
missed the beautiful opportunity of having a real brother.
13 AT A TABLE
Synopsis: Giulio, now a divorced
middle-aged man, returns to the family villa in Tuscany. The place brings back
bitter and sweet memories of his youth as the youngest of a large patriarchal
family and of the beautiful Anna, relentlessly pursued by all his brothers but
ultimately won over by him.
The house that¡¯s been a home to many, the walls
that have witnessed the tide of three generations are presently just a costly
toy that the family wants to get rid of. Overcome with emotions, and now aware
of the significance of the property, Giulio decide to buy all his
relatives¡¯shares and move back to the villa with his family.
THE MUNCHIES
Synopsis: The film reflects the
whole society through a small neighborhood where everyone is filled with hunger
in terms of both physical and mental conditions. Can you imagine drugs have
become the munchies in people¡¯s life? A group of young people wander all day
long among various undercurrents, such as the conflicts between immigrants and
local residents, the rampant spreading of drugs and the labor-management
controversy, so on and so forth. These little sparks eventually lead to an
eruption. The young people can¡¯t live a normal life, neither can they get to
know where their future lie. Under the confusing surroundings, the perplexed
youth quickly pales even with little lights of happiness. The rejects of the
society have no way to go except escaping.
