Misunderstood (Incompresa) | Asia Argento | New York Film Festival 2014
Meatballs are gross. Misunderstood chronicles the life of a bright-eyed young girl in the wake of a turbulent divorce. Italy’s Asia Argento presents her third directorial effort, supported by an incredible cast. It excels in being blissful, heart-breaking, and everything in between.
The story starts with a scene at the family dinner table and a fight over meatballs, which pretty much sets the stage for the rest. Clever moments of black comedy are interspersed between, at times, gut-wrenching moments of melancholy and drama. Whether it was the absurdity of Aria’s parents, or the interactions of the schoolchildren, laughter amongst the theater was plentiful. It’s an achievement to balance such emotions, and I think the film reached a nicely even tone.
That tone is carried by an absolutely impressive cast of actors. Giulia Salerno, just thirteen years old, gave an incredible performance. Through her beautiful blue eyes, our gaze becomes fixated on the pain she’s experiencing, without a need for spoken word. Aria is a quirky, compassionate, and slightly mischievous free spirit who values connection and love over all else. She is the only biological daughter of her parents, putting her at odds with her two half sisters. Many times throughout the film, Aria is literally lost in between her mother and father, roaming the dimly-lit streets of the night. It’s a frightening, fluid journey of discovery and a look into the void. With her cat and bag in tote, she meets various characters who seem to show her the love and tenderness that is absent from her home life…perhaps broken souls themselves. At this risk of extrapolating too far, I felt a lot of parallels between her and (the modern interpretation of) Joan of Arc. She’s guided by her own vision, denounced by those around her, and also cuts her hair short. I like to think that they have the same spirit.
Charlotte Gainsbourg is lovely as always, playing Aria’s mother, an impulsive concert pianist with a taste for money and men. She’s crazy, neurotic, and selfish…which goes the same for her husband. Many westerners won’t recognize Gabriel Garko, but his casting was perfect. Portraying an Italian film star, he’s bent on reinventing himself by making an “art film”, and is extremely superstitious, to the point of hilarity. They seem to show their daughter affection only when she seems to benefit them. The rest of the cast, mainly child actors, all give great performances as well. The interactions and dialogs between them all felt “innocently” natural.
Misunderstood is an attractive piece. Argento and cinematographer Nicola Pecorini have implemented a (now “abnormal”) 1.66 aspect ratio film vibrant with color and warmth. Set in 1984, the polaroid imagery is paired with an eclectic, enjoyable soundtrack ranging from eurodance to punk rock. (In the film, Aria actually watches The Penelopes perform from backstage.) Some of the scenes actually play like sequences from a music video, the kind of thing that people try to rip off for today’s retro-revivalist hunger…but it feels authentic in this case. The aesthetics make it pleasure to experience.
At it’s heart, it’s a story about the fragility of childhood. In a certain sense, because of her parents’ neglect, we get a rare unbridled look at the naivety, curiosity, and experience of youth. After the film’s dramatic conclusion, we are addressed directly by Aria, asking us to be a bit nicer. Perhaps we should be.
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