Italian Studies traces the journey of a British woman with amnesia as she walks around an energetic New York City on Independence Day. The film is shot in a new wave style without any plot. In an apparent dream, this produces a crescendo of urban noises, stream of consciousness images and broken conversation. Although Italian Studies has some value as an art house experience, it remains hollow. The non-realistic nature of the character’s journey is not interesting or compelling.
The movie starts in London, where a woman (Vanessa Kirby) takes part in a musical event together with her husband (David Ajala). The main character begs for one from another young concertgoer outside. She cannot believe the girl does not recognize her or Simon. Next up, we see her walking her dog on a busy summer day amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City. A hardware store attracts her attention but then she oddly loses herself there. The lady moves away puzzledly. Leaving barking pet behind.
She meanders through unnamed streets which had no meaning for her anymore. Among them were busy streets and people making time to look at everything including monuments and businesses being sold by street vendors who had quite some items such as clothes jewelry or fruits and vegetables piled high on their carts.” Catatonic shock” is how they say she appeared after being badly beaten by someone who left marks all over one side only; my God could not make sense out what had happened because there was nothing but blur in front his eyes while everyone else went about their daily lives as though nothing had changed at all; so many questions swarmed through mind like bees stinging each other until they too became numb from pain caused when breaking free against those that bound me within themselves forevermore…” It lasted for months; eventually I wound up living alone under bridge downtown near water where nobody knew anything about anything yet everybody seemed happy enough just living life day-by-day without any worries whatsoever except going hungry every once-in-awhile; at least until another meal would come along anyway…
Then with those of them walking on their own sidewalks at different parts through either side alongside noisy cars who never stopped moving until placed between taxis while holding onto poles full force without ever letting go as soon as they reached corners where even more people waited outside restaurants having windows wide open only during summer months such that other times could not see inside unless peeping out…”. “You look pretty” are my words which cannot believe he hears me say anything else but then again why should I be surprised when everyone else did too since it was just something that all women said when they first met each other—‘nice meeting you’ would have been better though because ‘pretty woman’ sounds like some sort of cheesy pick up line used by sleazy guys trying to get laid? And so, these kids went off together laughing and joking around about how great life is while walking back home from school-a typical day for them; however, this particular time Simon found himself alone with nothing much else left except his thoughts; maybe because nobody loved him enough anymore or perhaps someone had finally told lies regarding what really happened last night after all.
There were many empty moments in the movie. Yawning editing especially of Gen Z hipster interview vignettes. The characters were intended to be genuine slice-of-life types. But they come across as staged and insincere instead. For one thing, there were issues with the believability of the Simon-protagonist relationship dynamics. His friends did not think twice before accepting her into their midst despite her being a grown woman who hung out with kids.
Being homeless in New York City is not a fun experience. Italian Studies does briefly touch on food and shelter problems facing the main character. It’s almost as if these things are ticked off a list. After all, this is the kind of art house fiction. However, a vulnerable and attractive woman wandering through New York City’s streets is extremely unsafe. I just couldn’t accept that the movie did not examine this brutal truth of its premise. Homeless women have to constantly watch out for who they come across, where they go, and what happens as a result. While watching Simon go her way without questioning anything, I simply could not suspend disbelief.
Vanessa Kirby is an actor with immense talent. These moments of her being alone talking about things like this are some most touching scenes in whole film though everything else was just avant-garde pretense that didn’t work at all – even though it was very well done one could say). Italian Studies : Animal Kingdom , Topic Studios , Tango Entertainment
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