A neo-realist throwback with a modern face.
Comment
06/19/03
Rate this Movie 
Respiro (2003)
77
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work
Reviews Counted:83
Fresh:64
Rotten:19
Average Rating:6.6/10
Consensus: A sweet, but slight picture filled with beautiful people and locations.
Theatrical Release:May 23, 2003 Limited
Box Office: $905,313
Synopsis: On Lampedusa, an island near western Sicily, rival boy gangs play roughly among seaside cliffs. Husbands go out to sea and wives work in the fish-packing plant. Pleasures are simple and fun is... [More]
Starring: Valeria Golino, Vincenzo Amato, Francesco Casisa, Veronica D'Agostino
Director: Emanuele Crialese
Get This Movie
Reviews for Respiro
Crialese does such a marvelous job of establishing daily life in the film's first hour that the final section feels earned rather than forced.
06/20/03
A vital, startling film that is steeped in the noblest traditions of Italian cinema and whose sense of transcendence is accompanied by an equally powerful humanism.
07/08/03
Golino's soulful eyes, husky voice and fierce Gypsy manner suggest a streamlined version of Anna Magnani in her prime.
06/20/03
The dialogue is kept spare, and the visual images let loose to flow with their own comely sentiment
06/02/03
Like David Gordon Green's 'George Washington,' it examines the rituals of children and the oddities of families with fresh eyes.
08/26/03
Golino's performance is effortlessly haunting; it's a shame she doesn't have more of a movie to hang it on.
09/06/03
A beautifully composed tone poem about unspoken group dynamics in an isolated community.
05/23/03
Top Critic...has a spicy, sweaty, sun-baked sense of place and an air of magical realism, both of which enhance its central themes of love, passion, perception and faith.
05/23/03
There is a rough magic in the dramatic setting and the classical undertones crafted by writer/director Emanuele Crialese.
06/20/03
Top CriticAfter 90 minutes of policing female sexuality, the film is left with little to say on the matter.
07/08/03
The film is sleepy and has a general air of mystery and unreality, which is fitting for a fable. All the performances are delightful.
07/05/03
The cat-eyed Golino, who can be gorgeously sensual when the part calls for it, plays the mom with great naturalism, lavishing love upon her children and husband.
04/24/03
Respiro begins as a portrait of a woman who refuses to abide by the conventions of the comunity and ends with a bit of inspired magical realism.
11/23/03
If nothing else, it's a reminder of how severely underutilized Valeria Golino is as both actress and cinematic glory.
06/06/03
Top CriticWhatever its shortcomings, Respiro provides [Valeria Golino] with a juicy leading role, and she takes full advantage of the opportunity.
09/12/03
You just appreciate the time spent with these particular people in this particular place.
06/12/03
Top CriticA picture that cherishes the cinematic flourish as much as the poignant phrase.
05/23/03
Crialese does wonderful work with his actors in a stunningly filmic location, but his story is unoriginal and any new ideas underdeveloped.
06/08/03
The entire film is full of terrific touches -- funny and warm images that work perfectly and combine to paint a fully rounded picture of this community, right to the visually stunning, slightly surreal conclusion.
01/16/03
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
Best Dozen of the Decade 
Last week, MSN gave us their top 09 films. Now see what their favorites of the decade are!
Top 50 of 2009
Here's a list of the 50 best movies of 2009, according to the good people over at Moviefone.
Santa's Naughty List
Hollywood.com takes a stab at determining who in movies will be on Santa's naughty list in 2009.
Top 10 Movies of 2009
TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.
Top 20 of the Decade
Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
RSS Feeds