The idea is an ingenious combination of the classical Electra legend with Yojimbo. Rosa wants revenge for the murder of her mother and takes it by turning two small-time rural Mafia families against one another. The young actress, who certainly looks the part, plays most of the movie with a fixed smouldering stare, but her subtle variations of expression are cleverly done and it would be interesting to see how well she'd handle a different type of role.
That's where the good stuff ends, alas. The director is desperate to be clever, enigmatic and arty, at the expense of both his actors and his story. The actors do manage despite this and the Calabrian scenery plays a major role, but everything runs at a funereal pace - even the (very few) action scenes seem to take place in slow motion. Yet another long and baleful stare is followed by a lingering shot of a picturesque but empty street, then someone is walking along, then another baleful stare. This is over two hours long and, if it had been anywhere near sensibly handled, there's enough plot in there to fill most of that time. But as it is... There were only three reviews when I wrote this and one called the film: "a must-see for crime drama lovers" - thus luring me into watching on TV. In fact crime fans will all be asleep or will have turned off long before the end. I'm not sure who would appreciate this as two of those reviewers did, but if you like your movies slow, obscure and pretentiously directed, this may be for you.
