tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476417299747774792.post2488173927160624665..comments2010-05-03T17:58:21.012-07:00Comments on Italian Film: NuovomondoEMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07909577715589827049noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476417299747774792.post-27099094055348899732010-05-03T17:09:04.612-07:002010-05-03T17:09:04.612-07:00I do agree with the idea that Crialese left out di...I do agree with the idea that Crialese left out different iconic images of New York City so that the viewer could use their own imagination of what the immigrants would be seeing. One part of the film that I truly appreciate is how difficult it would be for these individuals to make the trip from Sicily to America. This is shown by Salvatore going to the cross asking for divine inspiration (they allude to the fact that this isn't the first time). The man they receive the clothing and shoes from also asks "Are you sure this time?" Most people cannot imagine how difficult it would be to make this transition.<br />Another idea presented in the film I appreciated was role superstition played in Sicily. This was displayed by the "witch doctor" mother when she could hear spirits and pull snakes from the young girl. Even today, Sicily is a very superstitious land partially because of all the different cultures that have influenced it over the years.Mr Hoosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06641664051120377310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476417299747774792.post-52312203021840619312010-04-30T14:17:43.994-07:002010-04-30T14:17:43.994-07:00This film was outstanding. It really portrayed a s...This film was outstanding. It really portrayed a sense of what it would be like to pick up stakes and leave for another country. <br />The surreal aspects of the film remind the viewer of immigrant dreams, where they are lead to believe that there are bountiful resources. However, getting to America isn't so easy. Another aspect of this film I enjoyed was the music played on the ship. While the music was sorrowful, it was also very enjoyable as a genre.<br />I think the narrative ending on Ellis Island was perfect. If they would have arrived in New York, it could have ended in tears, or have been too Hollywood.Cool Italian Picshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18327428113878333485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476417299747774792.post-81087026544603893672010-04-29T10:11:00.725-07:002010-04-29T10:11:00.725-07:00Hearing a lot of stories of immigration, this film...Hearing a lot of stories of immigration, this film gave me many flash backs of situations I've heard from family members. This film was excellent, a bit strange at times though. I think I understood the strange dream like sequences but in my opinion they were a little too far fetched. There was a lot to grasp about this film and I personally do think it depicted the journey to America quite well, at least from things I've heard. In terms of specific situations that might seem to be a bit odd, for instance the whole marriage scenes, where men would pratically bid on women. This was true and very accurate. One of my relatives Grandparents actually had to do the same exact thing, except he knew his future wife. The long voyage to America as immigrants was very interesting to see and this film did a great job of that!tots288https://www.blogger.com/profile/07676849838151056936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476417299747774792.post-43178210083922455392010-04-28T14:22:42.783-07:002010-04-28T14:22:42.783-07:00What I liked about the film was its storyline. I t...What I liked about the film was its storyline. I think that most can relate to the idea of wanting to make life better. The immigration aspect of the film is something most of us, if not almost all of us, can relate to since most of us probably had relatives who emigrated to the US via Ellis Island. I also admired the English woman named Lucy. She was different from the people she was with on the boat, not only in apperance but in other ways. She was a brave woman for going on a boat full of strangers, who did not speak her language, and going to a whole new land. Although she was different from Fortunata (I think thats her name but not sure) in so many ways, they both shared one quality: both are strong independent women. <br />Another important quality of the film I liked was how it would be silent a lot. For the avergae person who watches movies, silence can be distracting and lead them to question a lot. But in a way, silence and actions can speak louder than spoken dialogue.Celiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16251650981810814956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476417299747774792.post-76212000866831130172010-04-27T13:36:20.379-07:002010-04-27T13:36:20.379-07:00I particularity enjoyed this film because of its c...I particularity enjoyed this film because of its cinematography and its story. It connected with me on a personal level because my family roots are Sicilian. Although, not arriving at the turn of the 20th century, my grandparents also made the journey from Sicily to America. Nuovomondo captured the anticipation, despair, innocence, and devotion immigrants had to come to a foreign place in hopes of a better life. What impressed me about this film was that not everything was blatantly obvious. Crialese included some scenes in the film were it was left up to the viewer to interpret. Also, it examines American history, giving us a glimpse of things that actually occurred in the early 1900’s by weaving factual information into the Salvatore’s family voyage to America.Cinepresa87https://www.blogger.com/profile/09444779049535703656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476417299747774792.post-47304749470924226072010-04-27T13:32:24.980-07:002010-04-27T13:32:24.980-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Cinepresa87https://www.blogger.com/profile/09444779049535703656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476417299747774792.post-34652038417023821442010-04-12T21:42:37.518-07:002010-04-12T21:42:37.518-07:00One of the things that was interesting to me was t...One of the things that was interesting to me was the end of the movie. There was a similarity to 'Respiro', one of the other movies of Emanuele Crealese. The shots were made kind of the same, but with different angles. In 'Respiro', it was Grazia with Pietro swimming on the sea, and then everyone else came. When everyone got together you would only see their feet. It was a low - angle shot. On the other hand, in 'Nuovomondo', at the end you would see only the heads of Lucy and the Mancuso family. Then all the other immigrants came. They were also swimming in milk. That was a high angle shot. As you would see little heads in milk, it seemed like Crealese wanted to show how big and important America was to these people.Emirjona85https://www.blogger.com/profile/04360476664048261514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476417299747774792.post-20366953493727983722010-04-11T22:32:10.825-07:002010-04-11T22:32:10.825-07:00Nuovomondo definitely left room for interpretation...Nuovomondo definitely left room for interpretation. The numerous shots of bizarre scenes may signify many things, although unfortunately for those of us who are overly curious about Crialese's intentions, the true significance is never revealed.<br />Miss Lucy intrigued me due to the fact that I was left wondering if she was just taking advantage of this family, or if she secretly had feelings for Salvatore. I think her character develops throughout the film-meaning she goes from "woman who needs a way back into America, and will do anything for it" into "woman who intended on just using someone to get her into America, but ultimately grows to care about not only the man, but his family as well". I go from being weary about her, to appreciating her for the guidance she gives Salvatore and his family.elisa6690https://www.blogger.com/profile/01489969166469592778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476417299747774792.post-33017091927486114532010-04-11T13:19:01.921-07:002010-04-11T13:19:01.921-07:00One thing I really liked about this film is the as...One thing I really liked about this film is the aspect of silence. Silence is almost like its own character in this film, and it takes on a role of its own. One of the most powerful scenes in the film is when the immigrants are about to take off on the boat. They are all looking down at the people still on dock, and there is literally not one person talking. It is dead silent. This goes on for several seconds, and then finally there is a loud horn that goes off on the ship, causing everyone to look up at where it is coming from. That scene really meant something because like mentioned in the blog, the travelers were scared and sad; they didn't know what was in store for them. The silence really captured that well.<br /> The other scene having to do with silence is the one at the very end of the film with the grandmother and the mute son. They look at each other for what seems to be several minutes, not saying a word. It is like a spoken language between them that doesn't need words to be understood. This is a crucial scene in the film because right after this, the mute son talks for the first time ever, and the grandmother decides she wants to go back to Sicily. I don't think this would have been as powerful if it wasn't for the scene of silence. Silence is it's own character, and it is very important in the telling of the story.kelco411https://www.blogger.com/profile/13446197315095602396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476417299747774792.post-88836411770936996182010-04-09T11:00:06.674-07:002010-04-09T11:00:06.674-07:00The initial scene, as you mentioned, is important ...The initial scene, as you mentioned, is important because the contrast between the old world and the new world is evident before the story line is even developed. Salvatore and his family belong to a culture that incorporates superstitious beleifs into their daily lives. It is fitting that Salvatore and his family embark on their journey to the new world only after having received, what they interpreted, as a sign from a rock shrine. In my opinion, the rock offerings to a shrine that did not appear to reppresent an particular holy entity, symbolized their faith in superstitious or even pagan beleifs as opposed to a divine being that would guide them both physically and spiritually. Their superstitious beleifs will stay present with the travellers throughout the course of their voyage. <br />It's a beautiful film with little words and I love the way Crialese leaves the viewer speculating about what awaits the Mancuso family on the other side of the Golden Doors.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13244836512644341929noreply@blogger.com