Underrated 2021 Italian Film: A Hidden Gem?

Italian Film “The Hole” Finds New Life Streaming on RaiPlay after Festival Acclaim

A critically lauded Italian film, “The Hole,” is now available for free streaming, offering a second chance for audiences to discover the work after its initial release largely went unnoticed domestically. The 2021 film, directed by Michelangelo Frammartino, garnered attention at the 78th Venice international Film Festival, winning the Special Jury Prize, but struggled to find a broad audience upon its release.

The Allure of “Slow Cinema”

Many compelling author works face this challenge – achieving festival recognition only to fade into obscurity. According to industry observers,this often stems from difficulties reaching the wider public,a hurdle overcome in this case by its availability on RaiPlay.”The Hole” exemplifies the genre of slow cinema, characterized by a minimalist aesthetic, sparse dialog, and a focus on contemplative sequences. This purposeful pacing prioritizes atmosphere and visual storytelling over conventional narrative structures.

Did you know?-Slow cinema is not a new phenomenon. It has roots in European art films of the 1960s, with directors like Chantal Akerman pioneering the style.

A Descent into Darkness and Reflection

The film is set in 1961 and follows a team of speleologists from Piedmont as they venture into the Bifurto Abyssa, a 683-meter deep cave in Calabria. The explorers embark on their journey without maps, descending into a landscape shaped by ancient nature and a conventional, rural society. Frammartino and his team recreated the historic 1961 exploration, even descending 400 meters into the cave themselves.

The narrative is interwoven with the story of an aging shepherdS passing, his final moments coinciding with the explorers reaching the cave’s depths. This parallel structure invites reflection on themes of time, the contrast between tradition and modernization, and the rediscovery of Southern Italy – both geographically and internally for the characters.

Beyond the Italian “Hole”: Exploring Other Films with similar Themes

While interest in Michelangelo Frammartino’s “The Hole” grows, its worth noting other films explore similar themes of isolation, exploration, and the contrast between the natural world and human experience-ofen within the format of slow cinema. By investigating these works parallel to “The Hole,” viewers can deepen their comprehension of the film’s artistic choices and thematic depth.

One notable example is the 2001 British psychological thriller, also titled “The Hole” [[1]]. This film, directed by Nick hamm, presents a vastly different scenario. This movie is centered around a group of teenagers who become trapped in an underground bunker. Another film with a similar title, “The Hole” from 2009, showcases a family discovering a mysterious opening in their new basement [[2]].

These varying approaches reflect the flexibility of the “hole” concept-a physical space representing psychological entrapment and existential questioning. But “The Hole” (2021), as highlighted earlier, distinguishes itself by embracing a non-narrative portrayal and delving into the mysteries of the natural world. So, what are some similar characteristics found in other films utilizing slow cinema that also embrace an introspective and visually driven narrative?

Slow Cinema: Key Characteristics and Influences

Slow cinema, as discussed earlier, diverges from mainstream filmmaking with unique stylistic characteristics. Films like “The Hole” (2021) epitomize this genre.

• Long Takes: Extended shots that give time to observe the unfolding narrative. This encourages the audience to reflect on the setting and the interactions.
• Minimal Dialog: Sparse conversations to shift emphasis from the plot and toward visual language.
• Realistic Pace: A intentional lack of urgency. This invites contemplation and engagement with the film’s atmosphere.
• Focus on Location: Often, the setting becomes a central character.

Films sharing similarities with “The Hole” (2021) and the broader slow cinema movement reveal how the setting is an extension of the characters’ internal journeys. Consider the themes of human insignificance amid the vastness of nature,the passing of time,and the search for inner peace.

What makes slow cinema successful? Slow cinema thrives on allowing the viewer to become immersed in the scene rather than being dictated to. This can lead to a more profound interaction with the themes of the narrative.

Whether experiencing the physical spaces, exploring psychological challenges, or contemplating a sense of purpose, viewers often find a deep connection. Slow cinema films provide an escape from the fast pace of modern life, encouraging viewers to slow down and be present.

By exploring these similar works alongside the Italian “Hole,” audiences can gain a deeper recognition for the film’s artistic choices, its reflections on life, and the broader, thought-provoking possibilities of this cinematic style. The film acts as a gateway to explore a type of cinematic narration