Director Damiano Michieletto
Starring Michele Riondino, Tecla Insolia & Fabrizia Sacchi
Rated M
Score 5/6

A talented violinist, Cecilia, confined in an orphanage, meets Vivaldi who becomes her teacher. Under his mentorship and through his music, she gains courage to break free from the life she was destined for and pursue her passion.

Primavera is based on the 2008 novel Stabat Mater by Tiziano Scarpa, director Damiano Michieletto with Primavera was making his feature directorial debut, it should be noted that the movie is in Italian with English subtitles because there’s a few people out there hesitant to watch a movie with subtitles. Even if it isn’t Primavera you really need to watch at least one movie with subtitles it will expose you to new styles of storytelling. The movie’s opening certainly was shocking, and the movie certainly was tragic in places but the hopeful uplifting note that the movie ended on was definitely earnt. I really wanted to despise the orphanage’s Governor and the Prioress but all i could do was just hate them. There where some great performances by  Tecla Insolia (Cecilia) and Michele Riondino (Antonio Vivaldi). I also liked the creativity with how the filmmakers dealt with Cecilia’s moment with the greengrocer. A Hollywood director probably would have dealt with it in a more linear fashion. Whenever, I watch biographies there is always that small voice in the back of my head that wont shut up asking ‘how much of this is true?’ Primavera is one of those movies where the filmmakers have taken enough historical fact and then went on to explore the themes they wanted to like artistic emancipation and female suppression. The soundtrack certainly was enjoyable but what really struck me was the colour contrast between the orphanage and the outside world. What also struck me was how the costumes worn by Cecilia and the other orphans seemed similar to some of the costumes worn in The Handmaid’s Tale.