SYNOPSIS: 11-year-old Tommi, his older sister Viola, and their father Renato have formed a strangely united family since their mother abandoned them.  Despite all, this family, so full of fury, failings and inconsolable loneliness, keeps going thanks to their abiding concern for others and their love.

EDITORIAL REVIEW:  Once again, the official synopsis doesn't do this outstanding film any justice.  We play witness to the daily life of Tommaso, or Tommi for short, as he desperately tries to please his father while trying to "follow the beat of his own drum."  Like many of the other boys in Italy, Tommi wants to play soccer but Renato would rather see his only son take up competitive swimming and represent his country one day in international competition.  But Tommi begins to grow more independent and starts to meet new friends and challenge his father.  Is Renato willing to let that happen?

Renato has some serious anger management issues to the point where one could say he is a little bipolar.  Calm one minute, violently angry the next, Renato's mood swings can be attributed to a stressful life at home since his wife, and mother to Tommi and Viola, left town to be with a more wealthy man.  To add to the family's problems is Renato's lack of steady work (although he seems to be the cause of his own demise).

Like his father, Tommi feels resentment and anger towards his mother for leaving the family, while Tommi's older sister, Viola (who's going through her own hormonal imbalance) is indifferent.  However, she would welcome their mother back with open arms rather than take the approach that Tommi and Renato would take.  Soon enough, though, it comes time to test their loyalty as Mum reappears with the hopes of reconciliation.

What do you get when you mix all these strange personalities together?  A fantastic film you'll gladly put on your list of favorites (perhaps even in the Top 10).  Alessandro Morace plays Tommaso and Renato is played by the film's director, Kim Rossi Stuart.

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* This DVD will play in North America only.  This DVD should play in most players outside of North America as well, but it's not guaranteed. This DVD will play in any computer DVD-Rom.  This is NOT a DVD-R.

VIEW MULTIMEDIA:  

STARRING: Alessandro Morace, Marta Nobili, Kim Rossi Stuart, Sebastiano Tiraboschi.
AVAILABILITY: In stock! Ships within one business day
LENGTH: 104 minutes.
LANGUAGE: Italian, with OPTIONAL ENGLISH AND FRENCH SUBTITLES.
SPECIAL FEATURES: 1.85:1 (16:9 Widescreen); 5.1 Stereo; 1 disc; Chapter selection; Uncut.
VIEWER DISCRETION: Brief nudity, sexual innuendo, violence, coarse language.
PICTURE QUALITY: Excellent picture quality. (what's this mean?)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy (2006).
ALSO KNOWN AS: Along the Ridge (International English title) / Anche libero va bene.
DATE ADDED TO OUR LIBRARY:  November 30, 2007.
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