watch later

Not interested / seen

Martin Eden (2019)Martin Eden (2019)

Martin Eden (2019)

A vivid and nostalgic adaptation of the 1909 novel, now set in Naples

Drama, Romance

7.0

movie

France, Germany
French, Italian
Challenging, Depressing, Discussion-sparking
2019
Pietro Marcello
Aniello Arena, Carlo Cecchi, Chiara Francini
129 min

Synopsis

rotten tomatoes
imdb
wikipedia
The tale of an individualist proletarian in a time marked by the rise of mass political movements. In early 20th-century Italy, illiterate sailor Martin Eden seeks fame as a writer while torn between the love of a bourgeois girl and allegiance to his social class.

Our Take

7.0
Isabella Endrinal

Loosely based on the 1909 novel, Martin Eden is a stunning film about the hollow success of individualism. The plot points remain the same: Eden, a self-taught sailor, wants to win the heart of the wealthy Elena Orsini. To do this, he strives to break into the upper class with his writing. However, in this film, writer-director Pietro Marcello adds another dimension to the anti-individualist story: he transports Eden from his original California setting to Naples—allowing for views of different cultures, languages, and classes. By intercutting between old film stock and lingering close-ups, Marcello draws from his documentary background to masterfully evokes the process of remembering. And in refusing to define the time period, Marcello recognizes that Eden’s struggle is still ongoing today—and that his success is still hollow.

Comments

What did you think? Who should watch it?

Next up

Meet the Patels (2014)

7.8

A hilarious yet sweet documentary about Indian matchmaking

Blackberry (2023)

7.2

A darkly comic look at the rise and fall of the tech innovation and status symbol that was the Blackberry

Dust in the Wind (1986)

7.6

A slow, bittersweet coming-of-age love story seen through day-to-day glimpses and belated realizations

Taste of Cherry (1997)

7.3

A haunting premise, yet hopeful, search for connection one last time

Riceboy Sleeps (2022)

best

8.6

An immigrant tale that is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking

Papicha (2019)

best

8.3

With fashion as their defiance, Papicha boldly unveils the resilience of women against the backdrop of an oppressive society

Mystery Train (1989)

6.7

Memphis, Tennessee (and Elvis Presley) are enough to draw three unexpected stories towards a run-down flophouse

The Hole (1998)

7.7

In a world where reality crumbles, a water shortage sets the stage for an unforgettable cinematic journey

Made in Hong Kong (1997)

7.5

A nihilistic teen gangster melodrama about abandonment set in 1997 Hong Kong

Sisu (2023)

7.0

A stunningly shot, action-packed Finnish film that gives the John Wick franchise a run for its money

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw

© 2023 agoodmovietowatch. Altona Studio, LLC, all rights reserved.