'Italian Studies' Review: Kirby's Manhattan Dreamland
NR
Runtime: 1 Hr and 21 Minutes
Production Companies: Animal Kingdom, Topic Studios, Tango Entertainment
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Director: Adam Leon
Writers: Adam Leon
Cast: Vanessa Kirby, Simon Brickner, Annika Wahlsten, Annabel Hoffman, Maya Hawke
Release Date: January 14, 2022
A writer loses her memory in New York City. Attempting to find her way home, she connects with a group of strangers in conversations, real and imagined.
Given how long it’s been since we’ve seen a film shot in NYC prior to the dystopian state we’re in now, Italian Studies captures a nostalgic aura, even if it’s out of director Adam Leon’s intentions. Witnessing Vanessa Kirby portray a writer in a fugue state of mind, wandering in a pre-pandemic New York may sound rather basic, but damn, the naturalistic cinematography by Brett Jutkiewicz makes this dreamlike experience feel inviting. There’s an ample amount of gorgeous natural shots that make you starry-eyed, especially if you’re a resident in the city. One that stood out the most is a tracking shot where Kirby is crossing a Manhattan street at night as fireworks go off in the background. Due to her being so focused on recollecting her memory, she’s absolutely unphased by it. It’s the strongest character moment this film has to offer while taking advantage of the city’s beauty. The camera movement is clearly done via handheld and most of the shot compositions are either closeups or medium shots to get you up close and personal with Alina’s travels. It works best when you see her in various exterior locations, letting the viewer get attached to her “fish out of water” feeling. More like Dory in the big city, simply put.
Vanessa Kirby in ITALIAN STUDIES, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Academy Award-nominated actress Vanessa Kirby (ugh, sounds so good to say) commits to this role so damn brilliantly. It’s a solo vehicle that has her moseying around NYC and sometimes you believe she is, in fact, in a fugue state. No matter how I feel about how the character herself is written, I must commend Kirby for playing it so consistently grounded and earnest. The way she interacts with other people, especially with the newcomer teenage actors she surrounds herself with, makes it hard to guess if her dialogue is scripted or not. There’s grade A New Yorker energy in this film, ranging from dining in a Chelsea Papaya Dog to taking a piss in an outdoor alley. For a major solo vehicle riding off interactions with various unknown actors, Kirby does a fantastic job carrying the film.
While I did get Leon’s intention of having this experimental odyssey through youth and memory, most of the stylistic choices fall flat in terms of structure and storytelling. The film opens with an odd framing device as Alina, a renowned writer, is in London working and surrounded by her loved ones. Once she’s recognized by a young woman she doesn’t remember, the film cuts to her in NYC, already being in a fugue state while wandering around Manhattan. Through this main meat of the story, or lack thereof, Leon includes interviews with teenagers who discuss various topics regarding their youth, which bears little to no correlation with Alina’s story. Maybe the intention is to make the viewer feel as lost as the lead, but it still feels disjointed enough to stop the viewer from caring about what’s happening onscreen.
Simon Brickner in ITALIAN STUDIES, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Simon Brickner is a standout as a high school senior named Simon. He interjects life and charm into the film as he tries to resell a hot dog to Alina and they share some fun banter. The two spend a lot of the runtime hanging out, which leads her hanging with other teenagers. From the moment this budding interaction begins, the film goes through a weird route that I was so not comfortable with. Without giving too much away, I must say:
Italian Studies is one of those vérité/direct cinema hybrid indies that’s experimental for the sake of it. What you see is what you get and what it offers is a major lack of substance that leaves you feeling bored and unimpressed. For a movie as short as it is, it’s a slog and a half that is hoisted by the lead’s captivating performance and some technical aspects. Apart from that, it really fails to capture any sort of emotion outside of confusion and discomfort.
