Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This movie centers on a married couple, who are amateur actors performing the play “Death of a Salesman,” and how their lives change after they move into an apartment that used to be occupied by a prostitute. Admittedly, I'm not the most cultured and have only seen 10-12 foreign films my entire life, two from this director. I prefer comedies and try to avoid suspense, thrillers, and dramas because I have “the emotional range of a teaspoon” and don’t step outside my comfort zone very often. Personally, I find it difficult to watch foreign films for a couple reasons: First, you're having to read subtitles so naturally you may miss some things and second, if you're not familiar with the culture, customs, and practices of the movie's origin, you may miss some of the nuances and underlying symbolism that enhance the story line. Case in point, the spaghetti/pizza scene and the cultural significance of obtaining money, sustenance, things, etc. through licit means. I had not seen or heard of the play "Death of a Salesman" so if you have, you will probably appreciate the movie more than someone who hasn’t… but it’s not a prerequisite. I didn’t know what to expect with this movie but after waiting over an hour at the Smithsonian film festival along with hundreds of other people, I was invested. Going into foreign films like this, I feel like the camera quality and the film’s budget are not on par with western movies so for someone like me who is already struggling to watch a foreign film, that can be a factor. Having said all of the above, this movie blew me away and I would recommend it to anyone. It was so well done that I couldn’t stop talking about it afterward. There was a great deal of depth and substance and not a single wasted scene. Even the best Hollywood blockbusters have scenes that are disjointed or moments where you can get up and go to the bathroom. Not this movie! Every scene, every moment contributes to a deeper understanding of the plot, characters, symbolism and plight of the main characters. I’m reluctant to provide more detailed descriptions because giving away anything will diminish the enjoyment of experiencing this first-hand. So there you have it. This tour de force blew the mind of an uncultured guy who is not into foreign films. The creativity of the writer/director and the powerful performance of the actors left me in awe. It's amazing what these countries can produce with all their restrictions and a fraction of the budget a mediocre Hollywood film would have.