The Solitude of Prime Numbers (2010)

Great Film overall

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I haven't read book but was attracted by title. First 30 mins was good. Such promise. Sadly after that it was a complete waste of time. Rather than spend time writing a further review I can say Mendhak's review perfectly sums it up: "a jumble of time-lines and a storyline filled with teenage angst and pointless drama. It is also full of needlessly prolonged scenes that make no sense, but which you can feel the director congratulated himself over. Also, this movie has nothing to do with prime numbers. Prime numbers may have been mentioned in one or two sentences in the movie, but were never the focus. I wonder if there was a better reason in the book for using the words 'prime numbers'. " Don't waste your time on it...even the cinematography descended into rubbish after first 30 mins....

The title of this movie was my prime stimulus to watch it: not only to deconstruct the meaning but also because a movie about math - apparently - might provide a unique filmic experience, I thought. Well ... I'm correct about the first, but not the second.Happily for viewers, it's not all about math. But the story is about a young man who is, at an early age, recognized as a math genius. We follow him, Mattia (Luca Marinelli) and his childhood companion, Alice (Alba Rohrwacher), as they both grow up, through their teen years and on to adulthood. Both are introverted to the point of almost total withdrawal; both indulge in aberrant behaviors; both experience intense personal and psychic pain early in life which heightens their isolation; but, also, both recognize each other for what they are - primal individuals unable to communicate according to society's dictates. For the next twenty plus years, they each try to establish a lasting relationship with each other. During the course of that time, they briefly meet, in person, perhaps on five or six occasions; at the end of the story, Alice sends a short, urgent letter, to which Mattia responds in person. At all other times, we see their lives unfold individually as they each grapple with the many obnoxious (or helpful) people who intrude upon their solitary existences.Some viewers might find the plot too slow; indeed, a few sets and scenes do include long static shots, particularly facial close-ups. What's more annoying, though, is the elliptical structure of the story as it cuts between three different time periods; which I'm sure will tend to confuse some or even many viewers. Having read the novel - brilliant writing which worked exceedingly well as a linear narrative - I'm still puzzled why the director decided upon disjointed flashbacks. Visually, it doesn't work well at all; frankly, it lessens the dramatic tension, especially when compared with the novel.My overarching criticism, however, concerns the ending, the resolution to Mattia's and Alice's solitary anguish. In the novel, it ends realistically and appropriately, I thought. This movie's end is, unfortunately, hopelessly Hollywood.The production is competent, although I think the music is too loud at times. The cast and acting are fine. In view of my above comments, though, my recommendation is: read the novel, forget the movie. Give it 5 out of 10, barely.May 2nd, 2016

An enigmatic film by Saverio Costanzo was shown recently on a cable channel. The adaptation of a novel by Paolo Giordano, comes to the screen in this story that is told in three different times and covers events in the lives of Alice and Mattia, two wounded souls who destiny brings together in surprising and mysterious ways. Starting in childhood, Mattia and his twin sister Michela, who suffers from an unknown disease that has rendered totally dependent on her parents, and ultimately, his sibling make an odd pair. He is healthy, while she is obviously handicapped. Alice, on the other hand, seems to come from a happier background, but after an accident which has left her with a noticeable limp, she retreated to a world of her own.In high school, both Mattia and Alice's path convene under strange circumstances. Alice an introvert soul, is bullied by her peers. She is the butt for all the cool girls jokes and derision. Mattia, who begins attending Alice's school, is in his own world, not mixing with the other boys. A cruel classmate, Viola, realizes Alice is in love with Mattia. Feigning to like the girl, Viola has a surprise in store as she humiliates Alice during her birthday party. Alice's confidence is shattered, and Mattia is unable to be of help.As years pass, Alice, now a photographer, lures Mattia into accompanying her to Viola's wedding. Mattia and Alice repair to an empty space, avoiding the celebration, where she starts caressing the man she has been in love for so long. As fate has it, Mattia goes to follow his studies to Germany, while Alice by now married and separated seeks information about him with his mother. Mattia, concerned about Alice's welfare, returns for a visit, but he is too horrified to find an unknown Alice, who is clearly in a state of despair about the turn her life has taken. Is it too late for these lovers?Saverio Costanzo directed as well as collaborated with Mr. Giordano in the adaptation of the text to the screen treatment of the material. The message seems to refer as how the prime numbers relate to these two strange lives that crave to be together, but cannot find happiness in any way they can connect. The staging of the story relies in the use of fog and rain in the key scenes of the film. The story starts slowly, as the viewer feels disoriented, as well as disconnected from the story, but to his credit, Mr. Costanzo, pulls us into the drama of lives wasted and opportunities that escape these souls that have so much to give one another, but never connect, like the prime numbers.An excellent Alba Rohrwacher keeps giving amazing portrayals in whatever project she graces with her presence. She is an amazing actress who always surprises with her innate intelligence. Equally surprising is the work of Martina Albano, seen as the young Alice. She makes an impression in this film and no doubt she will continue to go to showcase her talent. We enjoyed Vittorio Lomartire as the young Mattia. Luca Marinelli, playing the older Mattia does not have much to do. Isabella Rossellini appears as Mattia's mother in a small, but pivotal role. Aurora Ruffino is perfect as Viola.The production gets a fabulous look thanks to Fabio Ciancetti camera work. Mike Patton's musical score feels right for all the different eras in the story and the editing of Francesca Calvelli serves the film well. Saverio Costanzo is a talented filmmaker whose work merits a view by fans of the Italian cinema.

Do yourselves a favor: don't watch the movie and read the book instead.I read the book a couple of years ago, which I liked a lot. I was curious to see the movie rendition, even though I had a bad feeling: the IMDb score was kind of a red flag.I have quite a few problems with the movie:1) It changed several aspects of the book, some of which are fundamental. Above all, the ending. In the movie conveys a very different (and more crowd pleasing) message, which contradicts the essence of the title.2) It does not propose a linear development of the story, making up a bunch of flashbacks and previews, which I found very confusing. Figuring out what happened to the main characters, and their families, will prove even more challenging for a person that hasn't read the book.3) It does not develop some major themes, such as Alice's mother passing away, or the intense, deep and unique bond that the two outcasts (Mattia and Alice) share is just touched upon, to name a few.4) The soundtrack is simply terrible. Apparently, it was taken from another movie, possibly to pay tribute to (emulate?) Tarantino. It's way too much "in your face". It does not complement the movie, being too invasive and too "loud".5) The horror interpretation might be original and bold. However, sometimes by being bold things can go horribly wrong. Which I think was the case here. With the horror approach, one can be partially insulated from the tragedies and the emotional nightmares that the main characters face and go through. Maybe this was a way to decrease the high expectations that were surrounding this production, as the book was a best-seller in Italy.The culprit of this failed attempt must be the director, as most actors do a fine job. Alba Rohrwacher delivers (as usual) a great performance. And I did like the mean Viola played by Aurora Ruffino. Filippo Timi, instead, overdoes it in a small cameo.I really hope my memory will be able to erase the scenes that I've just seen (a-la "spotless mind"...), restoring what my imagination came up with while reading the excellent book.