Paolo Genovese's New Film 'Il rumore delle cose nuove' Fails to Impress
The director's latest drama struggles with heavy stereotypes and a lackluster script.
1Theatrical Release Details
Paolo Genovese returns to theaters on November 12 with his latest feature, Il rumore delle cose nuove. The film, which premiered at the Rome Film Fest, is based on the director's own 2023 novel. It follows his previous project, Follemente, released early last year, continuing his pattern of alternating between comedy and drama.
2Choral Narrative Structure
The film employs Genovese's signature style by utilizing a large, star-studded ensemble cast. The plot focuses on the interconnected lives of three couples navigating their personal struggles within a bleak, grey-toned depiction of Milan. This structural choice aims to capture complex human emotions but ultimately relies on familiar, well-worn cinematic tropes.
3Scripting and Writing Flaws
Co-written by Genovese and Igor Artibani, the screenplay is criticized for being overly loud and heavily reliant on stereotypes. These writing choices stifle the characters' genuine frustrations and unspoken desires, preventing the audience from connecting with their arcs. The dialogue fails to provide the depth required for such an emotionally heavy narrative.
4Critique of Bourgeois Portrayal
The film attempts to explore the anxieties and habits of bourgeois life but fails to resonate. Critics describe the final product as an indigestible collection of artificial moments that lack authenticity. It struggles to capture genuine human experiences, instead reducing complex social dynamics to predictable and tiresome clichés throughout the entire runtime.
5Comparison to Past Success
The reception of this new work highlights the significant distance from the director's past achievements. Perfetti sconosciuti remains a rare, singular miracle in Genovese's career that this latest project fails to replicate. While the director continues to experiment with his established formulas, the results currently lack the impact of his earlier successes.
6Visual and Atmospheric Tone
The film is characterized by a pervasive sense of greyness that permeates every plot point. This visual choice, intended to mirror the characters' internal struggles, instead flattens the narrative and contributes to the overall feeling of stagnation. The aesthetic direction fails to elevate the material, leaving the story feeling visually monotonous and uninspired.
7Failure in Social Commentary
Beyond the bourgeois focus, the film attempts to incorporate elements of more popular, everyday life. However, these attempts are reduced to terrible commonplaces that lack nuance or insight. By failing to accurately frame the difficulties of different social strata, the movie misses the opportunity to provide meaningful commentary on contemporary Italian society.
8The Director's Evolving Legacy
Genovese continues to move between genres, following a self-imposed rule of balancing comedy and drama. Despite his prolific output, this latest effort suggests a decline in the ability to interweave complex human emotions effectively. The film serves as a reminder of the challenges inherent in maintaining consistent quality within a specific directorial style.
Original article: Today.it — Paolo Genovese's New Film 'Il rumore delle cose nuove' Fails to Impress