Dear Diary
1994
Directed by Nanni Moretti
The Book states "Exercises in personal filmmaking are sometimes narcissistic and cloying, but that is not the case here." While I am not sure Dear Diary completely escapes these labels, I still enjoyed this quite a bit.
The movie is divided into three sections. The first is titled "On My Vespa" which provides a glimpse of Moretti's thoughts and opinions. The second is "Islands" which depicts Moretti and his friend, a Joycean scholar, attempting to find a quiet island to work. The final chapter is titled "Doctors" which tells the story of Moretti's cancer diagnosis.
This film is fairly judgmental. I know this is a serious case of the pot calling the kettle black, as I am rather judgmental myself. But the "Islands" segment just rubbed me the wrong way. I think we were supposed to regard it as some sort of tragedy that a great mind would become obsessed with soap operas. Just do you. If you want to watch soap operas, watch soap operas. I think I would rather talk to someone who worships The Bold and the Beautiful than someone who worships Ulysses. That book took years off my life. Sorry, we have hit upon a pet peeve of mine: people who argue you're not really living unless you are doing x, and not spending your time doing y. Just leave everyone alone.
Wow, I am really going off the rails. Let's just end this review by saying I greatly enjoyed "Doctors" and "On My Vespa."
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
Moretti won Best Director at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival.
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