MovieChat Forums > Genova (2009) Discussion > Was I the only person that liked this?

Was I the only person that liked this?


I have to say I was surprised so few people liked this movie. I thought the element of having a tragedy like the one at the beginning of the movie actually being the fault of one of the children was a very interesting premise for a movie and it made the whole thing work quite well. That little detail is something that is entirely possible, and probably happens all the time, but I think that for some reason its destruction of the boundaries between innocence and guilt makes it such uncomfortable subject matter that I don't think I've really seen a movie treat the matter in depth before.

I have to disagree with people who say that there's not anything going on in this movie - there's a lot going on. It's the story of the tensions within the family and within each of its individual members in the wake of that particular kind of a tragedy. No one can really blame the girl directly, but it's not the sort of situation in which there's no one to blame either - so that just leaves them with a very powerful mix of emotional energy that they don't know where to direct. So it's very interesting to see all of that play out.

And of course at the same time, life does go on, and this energy doesn't (as it wouldn't in real life) dominate the family's every action and impulse - but it does color everything they do, if only slightly. I thought this was a very sensitive and well done piece, which was also very beautifully shot.

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I have to agree with you, Cactus. I just saw this last night and found it very moving. And, as you say the premise of having the youngest daughter be at fault was intriguing. It stayed with me as I watched the entire film. She went through some gut-wrenching scenes trying to deal with her guilt over the accident.

So, I guess there are two of us who liked it! I thought the acting was particularly good without the usual banter that follows a tragedy. They didn't make the father a perfect model for how to deal with grief, either, which was truly believable.

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Of course there're much more than you two.
I adore the film. The fascinating mood of it - all that marvel and insecurity. Every scene of it is like a valuable picture.
Unpredictability of events is just the life itself. Remember Mary and Barbara in church - Barbara was surely trying to play "mother" - and what then? The girl just run away from her. How true. One must be careful in attempt to "play mother".

But honestly, what I like in the film most of all is Colin. In fact, I fancy him being in life just like Joe. OK, I want him to be.

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i'm with you, gorye.... i picture colin being this kind of father...and even tho i wanted a proper ending, the movie was very heartbreaking and sad....and it was kind of nice the ending wasn't the norm.....

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No you are Most Definately NOT alone! This was an Incredibly Brilliant film!
It fails to reach some American viewers who are not "trained" to watch, what this (and many European) film does So Brillantly, which is the pacing of the physical & emotional events of the characters, with the emotional needs of the viewer themself!
Hollywood is, all too often, guilty of pandering, and quite possibly contributing, to the "ADD" factor of many of today's action, action, & more action packed movies! They flit from angle to angle, & inundate the viewe from Every Possible Sensation source to keep the viewers attention!
This is A Most Welcome Alternative, and a breath of real life As It Is Lived, without all the stunts, noise, & pyrotechnics, and
I thoroughly appreciated it!

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I liked it too.

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I'm no stranger to grief and it just didn't strike me as dealing with emotion in an authentic way with any of the characters other than perhaps the younger girl. The actions of the older daughter and father were frustratingly off. At many points, it was clear that I was watching a movie, whereas a good movie will draw you in so that you don't know you're see a movie. It was needlessly melodramatic and forced in hinting at danger and setting up situations like the one at the end where they just happen to converge at the same spot at the same time. Disappointing since I do like many of Winterbottom's other films.

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As of today, there are 925 imdb users who rated it 8, 9 or 10. I'm among them. Genova, on a certain level, reminded me of Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock, which is one of the most atmospheric movies ever made.

no i am db

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I liked it as well. Just finished watching it.

Once I realized the kind of film it was, where the things that happened were quiet yet powerful, I was able to lean back and thoroughly enjoy it. There was that pulled-back, disquieting feeling of ominous tension throughout. I agree it was interesting that the loss of the children's mother was a result of an unthinking moment on the part of the youngest child, resulting in profound tragedy for all of them.

And of course at the same time, life does go on, and this energy doesn't (as it wouldn't in real life) dominate the family's every action and impulse - but it does color everything they do, if only slightly. I thought this was a very sensitive and well done piece, which was also very beautifully shot.


Yes, that was very well handled. The father appearing to put his grief on the back burner out of his desire to be strong for his kids, to the point where Mary questioned if he even thought of her anymore. That was a nice touch. And it was beautifully filmed.

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