MovieChat Forums > Non ti muovere (2004) Discussion > I just don't get it.

I just don't get it.

posted 19 years ago by suchsmallportions
13 replies | jump to latest

-Spoilers ahead.-

How can Timoteo be a sympathetic character? I swear, I got so frustrated with him I wanted to scream at the screen. Timoteo is the ultimate exercise of vanity, male narcissim in the guise of romantic courtship. He has very few redeeming qualities, and those qualities don’t surface until the very end. He is selfish, crass, and careless. He is, in my opinion, grossly abusive and needier than Italia’s dog. He is desperate for Italia's maternal affections, yet he rarely gives anything in return.

In the end, Italia gives much more of herself to Timo than Timo to her. Italia sacrifices, Timo receives, Timo “communicates” through forced sex, Italia is used, and alas, Timo feels a “connection.” Are we supposed to accept this as romantic? What does *he* do to procure her love? In what way does he strengthen or contribute to their relationship? Nothing.

One could argue that Italia more readily accepts Timo because he emanates her father. She tolerates him, and it is only through her permissiveness that their relationship is able to progress. But see, this is what I don’t understand: Italia - brutalized by Timo’s almost manic, physically violent tendencies - nurtures him.

Now don’t get me wrong. This was a wonderful movie; it had great acting, a workable story arc, and gorgeous scenery. The only thing that irked me was that Sergio Castellito, by exposing Timo’s flaws and hanging a lantern on every one, asks for our pity. I guess that as a woman, I couldn’t determine what should warrant such pity. The raping didn’t just occur in the beginning of the film, it continued throughout. Italia became physically and emotionally destitute as a result of Timo’s mistreatment and indecisiveness. I think Timoteo deserves very little (if not none) sympathy, for it is his irresponsible actions that lead to Italia’s tragic death.

[–] jharna 19 years ago

well, in one hand I agree. one can never apologize adultery. he did have a wife. also, this is done after the novel where everything is permitted. but, on the other hand, I didn't see it as Italy didn't enjoy their bizarre relationship. after all, pronounced sexual relationship (violent sex, passion...) is very typical for spanish and italian movies and in style with people's temperament. it is very different from the sex in american movies. therefore, Italia did enjoy it, and she knew that such destructive sex is a mirror for their personal destruction as a pair, which is to come soon. the only thing is that nor Timoteo nor Italy had enough human power to stop it. they really loved each other so they couldn't break up. sympathy I gain for them is only as for wretched and miserable human beings. for Timoteo as for a man who was married to a woman he didn't love, his wife as being a wife who wasn't loved and Italy, as the most tragical character, whose life was doomed while she was young girl already.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dutchtom1 19 years ago

Yes, Sergio Castellito is a self obsessed ego centric sexist director/actor. If he thinks all the pseudo-drama is going to convince me that his suffering is deserved, then he is quite wrong. I just felt disgusted with his character, then again that may have been intention.

[–] ema_j_m 17 years ago

yeah i totally hated him too....just thinks he can go in and rape someone grr but then i dont understand why she then starts to nature him and stuff... i know i wouldnt be all lovey dovey if someone raped me sheesh

[–] esbenpost 17 years ago

So, here is a man, a doctor - his daughter is lying in the hospital, floating somewhere between life and death after a traffic accident.

In this horrible situation he relives his past - but not his past with his daughter, no - but an affair he had with some woman some twenty years ago. When his daughter was born.

Are we to sympathize with this man ?? This movie ??? It made no sense to me. Whatsoever.

[–] lameandsurly 16 years ago

Um, guys, I think the point of his reminiscing over this affair is that he's thinking of some of the "bad" things he's done in his lifetime, and he's terrified that his daughter's accident is God's revenge on him for, among other things: raping a woman, breaking his marital vows, wanting to break off his marriage... so he's remembering it in a masochistic way, like, "because I did all of this, this (accident, trauma situation) is now happening to me." But in the end we see that the rape and subsequent sexual objectification grew into (strangely enough) a sincerely caring relationship. And, really people, an affair is a pretty good indication that things at home are not perfect. On the surface, yes, he did some horrible things, but the whole story was more nuanced and more complicated than those acts alone.

Also, on another note, all of these events preceded the birth of his daughter. In fact, I would argue that his daughter was conceived because of his affair. His wife didn't want to have a family, and in my opinion, she only quit taking her birth control when she realized her husband was straying. She decided that having the child was what she had to do to keep him. That's not to say she didn't love her daughter, but be realistic here: he was the one who wanted to have a child, not her. He was ready to leave her and have a family with Italia when she announced her pregnancy and caused his emotional vacillations. She could not have been completely unaware of his emotional estrangement.

And, be fair, he remembers little episodes about his daughter, too, and you get a sense of their closeness from them.

[–] ccherry-1 15 years ago

I agree with the viewers who see Timo as selfish and narcissistic and self-pitying. Even in his relation with his daughter, though there were some close moments, he still forced her into a sport she hated and blocked her from pursuing one she loved until he had caused her great pain. Only when he sees pain in a woman does he relent and become a little bit human. Everything proceeds first from his needs and obsessions. I found myself hoping for Angela's survival for the mother's sake, not for his.

[–] jockey-1 15 years ago

I completely agree with you. I found the character so abhorrent that it affected my appreciation of the movie.

Ten stars for Penelope.... One for the wanker.

[–] kdy_9 15 years ago

I couldn't agree more with "lameandsurly". Very basic thing is if you don't get what's written in his or her post then you need to review this movie.

P. S. I don't sympathize with his character either, but that's another thing.

"With great Power. . comes . . . great Responsibility".

[–] jockey-1 15 years ago

No, the "very basic thing" is that here, like in the recent Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Penelope Cruz is the only rewarding experience in an otherwise unremarkable movie.

[–] Paper_Plate 15 years ago

I have to agree. Between Timoteo being so despicable, his friends being the same way and the Bourgeoisie, I thought I would just end up stopping the movie because I couldn't stand it. There was an overload of disturbing things in the movie (adultery, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, death, etc). But it was an excellent movie. The sheer emotions portrayed were absolutely beautiful. I loved the contrasts, the metaphors, the extremes that were portrayed.

[–] MinaGodiva 14 years ago

There were several moments in which I said 'Jerk' or 'Bastard' to myself about Timoteo.. I don't think though he is meant to be a sympathetic character in the first place to be honest. On the other hand, I do feel that in his own twisted way, Timoteo did care for Italia.

Italia sacrifices

That is completely true. I agree with that 100%.

Dear Warden.. You were right. Salvation lies within.

[–] trisul 9 years ago

Yes, you are right. But, in a sense, that is very often the case in our thousands of years of patriarchal society. The men abuse, the women nurture. A pattern that keeps repeating itself. Only recently has this thinking someone weakened, allowing us to perceive how rotten it is.