Out on Blu-ray on April 30, 2024, from Radiance Films
Following the death of his wife, a man returns home to Italy where their two sons await their return. There, he decides to inform his oldest, but withholds the information for his youngest for his protection. Soon, things turn sour in the household with big secrets and burdens affecting all that live there.
Written by Leonardo Benvenuti and Piero De Bernardi with collaboration from Lucia Drudi Demby and Giuseppe Mangione, based on the novel by Florence Montgomery, and directed by Luigi Comencini, the film is one that is all about emotions and inner turmoil, showing the effects of grief and loss on a family, whether they are aware of not of this loss. The film is one that is greatly emotional but also cold in some parts, showing that grief is not always obvious, and neither is it linear. The story here is concentrated on one family and it is written carefully to give perspective on their loss, their lives, and their relationships. The film shows care in the writing and directing, something that showed back in its original release with 18 international prize wins and 11 further nominations. It’s one of those films that hit just right back when it first was presented to the public and still does to this day. It’s a film that, yes, has a bunch of writers involved, but in this case, it’s for the better and there isn’t a “too many cooks” effect on the script. Things are tight, well made, and carefully brought to the screen.
The cast here is fantastic, sad and sometimes energetic, showing the right emotions, sometimes a purposeful lack of emotions, and a connection to each other, creating a screen family that is believable and with which the viewer can really connect. The lead here, the father, is played by Anthony Quayle who turns in a calculated, tortured performance that really sells the grief and its stages as well as its complexities. Playing his sons are Stefano Colagrande and Simone Giannozzi, the oldest and youngest respectively, who each give performances that feel beyond their years. Giannozzi is a bit more rambunctious, but it fits the role just right. Colagrande has more to work with, he has more emotional scenes and he makes the most of them, showing maturity and control over his art, until the very end where the scenes are a bit overwrought and lead to his performance feeling along the same lines.
The performances here are set in Florence, Italy, where the views and houses are stunning and the cinematography by Armando Nannuzzi balances the beauty of the locations with the sadness of the story. There is something in these images, something that keeps the viewer present even when things get difficult. The images aren’t afraid to show the sadness and the pain, they work with these emotions and make the most out of them.
Misunderstood feels like a film out of time, one that is not of any era, one where emotions reign and the time period its set in does not fully matter. This story shows the pain of grief and loss, the feeling of being lost yourself when a loved one dies, exactly right (except for that ending sequence with the eldest son which feels like it goes too far). Misunderstood is a strong film that deserves the accolades it has received in the past.
The release on Blu-ray by Radiance Films is one that looks fantastic with great transfer and sound quality, The brand-new restoration to 2k shines here. The extras here are some of the bests seen on a Radiance release so far with a fantastic interview with Cristina Comencini, filmmaker and daughter of the film’s director, along with one of the film’s writers Piero De Bernadi. The interview is interesting and connects to the film familial aspect while keeping the nostalgic melancholy to a minimum. The release also has a booklet that features an interview with director Luigi Comencini. The sleeve design based on the original promotional material adds to the feeling of respect for the content the whole release gives off.
