Humane and thought-provoking

I found this to be a very compelling film that uses numerous storylines in order to deal with a delicate subject matter from several points of view (political, ethical, religious). Personally I felt that the politician's segment was sometimes unengaging and slightly disconnected from the others: even though I understand the meaning of the subplot involving the psychiatrist, it could have been cut out entirely and Beffardi's dilemma would have come across just as effectively. On the other hand, I wish Rossa's storyline had been longer and more developed because her interactions with Pallido are the most touching scenes in the film. Despite dealing with a depressing subject matter, I really appreciated the hopeful ending and the fact that love is seen as such a powerful force that it can shake the characters' beliefs. The acting is another strong aspect, with a couple of exceptions: Toni Servillo, who is just adequate and monotone, and Brenno Placido, whose scene with his sister sounds like a theatrical Shakespearian monologue. The one actor that gives an impressive performance is Fabrizio Falco, who does wonders with his physical presence and limited dialogue, creating an unsettling and intimidating character but without hitting a single false note. The ladies though are uniformly terrific: Maya Sansa is heartbreaking in her brief screentime, Alba Rohrwacher brings a lot of childlike innocence to her character and Isabelle Huppert is dependably excellent in an over-the-top role that plays to her strengths. The art direction and cinematography are also impressive, particularly when it comes to Divina Madre's segment: the dark rooms and numerous props in her house successfully create a creepy and uneasy atmosphere.

Thoughts? What did everybody like/hate about it?

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