Reviews

A delightful piece of historical revisionism, so good natured and generous of spirit that it is easy to ignore any minor flaws and a rather lengthy third act. This is a movie that you want to succeed. And succeed it does. Ian Holm is superb.

Take perfect casting, a marvellous soundtrack, wonderful actors, a skilled director, great production values and mount them on a quirky, quixotic script and you have GREENFINGERS, a quietly unassuming film that goes about its business of filling two hours with grins and joy. Wistful comedies run a risk of being too maudlin. GREENFINGERS was able to masterfully present a "true" story in a dramatic fashion without adornment and without pandering to the "happy ending" syndrome espoused by many American comedies. Yet the film leaves one feeling bubbly, elated. The reason is that the blend of elements - script and direction and acting, indeed the entire production - has the feel of being a "real" story, not some blended pap that studio executives conceive as filling a marketing slot. This film can not be too warmly recommended. It is all heart.

If you've been looking for a great story, beautifully told, watch this movie. Like many Italian films, it portrays truths that are absent the linear, "everything has to pay off" American cinema. The story drifts in and out of different epochs with clever transitions that would make David Lean jealous. The actors are uniformly excellent with special praise owed to the exquisite Galatea Ranzi.

This is a film that can be seen again and again and enjoyed each time for the new discoveries and pleasures that it brings.