Dillo con parole mie

Dillo con parole mie (Ginger and Cinnamon) is a fantastic little Italian film about learning to love people's foibles. A woman's niece tricks her into a vacation on a Greek island, on a quest to be deflowered at any cost. She zeroes in on a cute local baker...who happens to be connected by far fewer than six degrees of separation. Wackiness ensues. I also first saw this movie at the Open Roads film festival, though without the director present. I saw it with my best friend, and it's been a special little film between us since then- we even sing the song from the end (it's Ta-ra-ta-ta by Mina). Stefania Montorsi is brilliant, so much so that it makes you wonder how much the character of STEFY might be based on reality. "Megghy" can be a little annoying at times, but in a way that is so perfectly natural in her role. This is definitely a chick film, but so original. The boys are charming as they go along for the ride. I'm lucky (or spoiled!) because I also speak Italian and can get even more out of it, but I recommend it even if you stick to the English (or whatever language) subtitles.

Superb. Simply superb. This film has a way of making you relate to each one of the main characters in a witty, funky and delightful way. It manages to make a point without taking itself too seriously. It takes place on the Island of Ios in the Cyclades...and somehow, for the two hours you are watching, you feel like you're there! It becomes your story. After watching it, I always feel so elated and happy (which is rare, I assure you). I hope this director continues to make films, as her perspective is refreshing, entertaining and enlightening. I'm very excited to see what else she comes up with. As a side note, the soundtrack is also wonderful. I wish it was more readily available.

This is not a brilliant film -- we can't really care about these characters enough to enjoy their pensive montages -- but it is refreshingly blunt.

15-year-old Martina (who never made another feature, and soon turned to costuming) is often irritating, but in exactly the way a 15-year-old Italian girl should be: bossy, demanding, frustrated, and not yet sure how to marshal her own energies. Stefania (who co-wrote this) is 15 years older and too much in control -- oblivious that she stifles herself. Throw these two onto a sunny Greek isle full of vacationing teenagers, mix in a little Comedy of Errors, a little Cyrano, a little Odd Couple ... there is no real resolution, but a lot of truth. They argue, they agree, they both come of age in different ways.

I really like this movie.

Stefania has just broken up with her beau of 8 years, Andrea. Her rebellious 14-year-old niece Martina, scusi Megghy, bails out of her girl scout trip to convince her mom to let her romp through Europe alone. But her grandmother decides that Megghy should stay with her aunt since she will be alone. Megghy persuades Stefania to take her to Ios in Greece, the island of love. But Stefania doesn't know that Megghy plans to lose her virginity to a stranger because she believes that she turns off guys because they can tell she's still a virgin

Stefania is absolutely gorgeous and her sense is humorous. Megghy on the other hand got slightly annoying. All her whining was getting on my nerves. Also she runs with her arms flailing. Very funny. Andrea is lovely and you can really tell he loves his girlfriend. I didn't expect the end to turn out the way they did. I love the bus scene. It's so cute!

I was wondering about that Indian music. I guessed I was getting Greek and Indian music confused but I was right that it was Indian. I actually learned the song at the end by a lot of playbacks.

I highly recommend this movie.

Thousands of backpackers descend upon Greece in the summer. This time it was an Aunt (Stefania Montorsi) and her niece (Martina Merlino) that joined them. Stefania was getting over the breakup of an eight-year relationship with Andrea (Giampaolo Morelli), and Megghy (Merlino) was looking to lose her virginity.

It was a very light romantic chick-flick that took place on Ios. It had a great soundtrack from Boy George to Mozart, from The Village People to Debussy.

Ultimately, it was a light salad; just enough humor to keep you interested, but little else.

I did like Montorsi and would like to see more of her in the future.