Summer time of Giacomo (L'estate di Giacomo)

A Tucker Film (in Italia) discharge of a Faber Film, L'ensemble des Films Nus, L'ensemble des Films d'Ici production, in colaboration with Wallpaper Prods, Tucker Film. Created by Paolo Benzi, Valerianne Boue, Alessandro Comodin, Marie Gehin, Rejane Michel. Co-producers, Stephane Lehembre, Yov Moor, Kathleen p Bethune, Thomas Bertracche, Sabrina Baracetti. Directed, compiled by Alessandro Comodin.With: Giacomo Zulian, Stefania Comodin, Barbara Colombo. (Italian dialogue)As wispy and languid like a golden mid-day, frosh helmer Alessandro Comodin's "Summer time of Giacomo" is really a docu-fiction hybrid that hardcore auteurist auds will discover lovely, and many mainstream audiences more temperate. Following a titular hard of hearing teen along with a girlfriend because they walk-through a sun-dappled forest, splash around inside a awesome river and go to a circus as twilight takes hold, pic mainly drinks within the sights and sounds, using the only dramatic development -- and the potential of much deeper meanings -- hidden behind an abrupt, late-in-the-game twist. Locarno's Filmmaker from the Present competish prize should help extend the film's fest season. Good-searching Italo youngsters Giacomo (Giacomo Zulian) and Stefania (Stefania Comodin) enjoy each other peoples company because they walk-through a densely wooded area that's more similar to an Edenic jungle than the usual northern Italian woodland (the film was shot within the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, highlighting Slovenia). Both are looking for a location to gain access to the river to allow them to frolic in the water, and also have introduced along merely a small bag that contains two towels as well as their lunch. Dialogue between Stefania and also the mercurial, almost childlike Giacomo is about the light side, their conversations composed of short commentary on which they see or do, and also the nonsensical banter typical of people that know one another well. But despite their easy rapport and also the casual sensuality natural in playing silly games in and close to the water in revealing swim wear, the precise character of the relationship isn't clearly mentioned. Pic's handheld, single-camera footage from time to time means unexpected things happen (a minimum of partly) offscreen and precludes shot/reverse shot edits. The slowed down-lower editing rhythm suits the unhurried narrative Giacomo and Stefi go ahead and take pic's first fifteen minutes to simply discover the river. Tempo can also be in tune using the lazy summer time day the protags are going through Comodin appears to claim that what's being proven isn't a big day, but one like many more pre and post it. Narrative stasis is crudely and deliberately undercut through the pic's final reel, by which Giacomo is again in the same riverside location, though now supported by another girl (Barbara Colombo), who's also hard of hearing. A jarring change in perspective throws the preceding occasions right into a different light, recommending losing something innocent and paradisiacal, but Comodin offers couple of clues regarding the way the two uneven parts fit together -- or whether or not they even happened within the order by which they're proven. Documentary-like feel is strengthened through the natural poise from the non-professional leads, with Zulian a photogenic, somewhat enigmatic presence throughout. Unforced lensing on 16mm looked fine in the digital projection caught, while other tech contributions are good pic's small budget. No production designer or costume designer was pointed out within the credits, which, in retro fashion, all unspool at the beginning of the film.Camera (color, 16mm-to-HD), Tristan Bordmann, Comodin editor, Joao Nicolau, Comodin seem, Julien Courroye assistant director, Marie Gehin. Examined at Locarno Film Festival (Filmmakers from the Present), August. 8, 2011. Running time: 79 MIN. Contact Boyd van Hoeij at news@variety.com