Il Capitale Umano is director Paolo Virzì’s grand-slam home run, a film based on a book by Stephen Amidon that was begging to be a movie.
Stephen Amidon’s novel about upper crust Connecticut becomes Paolo Virzì’s story of upper crust northern Italy in this stunningly complex drama about money, families going haywire because of it, and a guy on a bike who, one dark snowy night, loses his life and brings theirs into glaringly sharp focus.
READ MY INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN AMIDON
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This film truly is THE NEXT BIG THING, giving Sorrentino’s La Grande Bellezza a run for its money in the Italian award presentations. The cast is inspired, with Valeria Bruni Tedeschi’s neurotic and tentative mannerisms serving her well as the fragile matriarch, Fabrizio Bentivoglio, the foolish social climber Dino, and newcomer Matilde Gioli absolutely perfect as the teenager that enables everyone’s bad behavior and then runs behind them trying to clean up their messes.
Dino and wealthy narcissist Giovanni Bernaschi (Fabrizio Gifuni) are separated by class but united by their childrens’ friendship and Bruno’s half-baked scheme to make money. Giovanni doesn’t want his wife (Bruni Tedeschi) to worry her “pretty little head” about the financial pickle they find themselves in and Dino keeps his (Valeria Golino) completely in the dark, so she doesn’t even know that she should be worried.
Luigi Lo Cascio is crazy fun in the role of Russomanno, the delusional art director who gets a roll in the hay with a frustrated wife and doesn’t know enough to count his blessings and move on.
The soundtrack, often the weakest part of Italian movies (practically ruining good ones by making them seem dated) is spectacular. Moody, suspenseful, and perfect for the story, it’s from Paolo’s super talented brother Carlo Virzì.
Paolo Virzì has everything he needs for a big, big, international hit; a compelling story, a solid cast, the clout he needs as a director to attract attention beyond Italy’s borders. This one will be coming your way, and I will keep my eyes open for where and when.
I Love Italian Everything 