Venice Film Market screening - short review - YURI ESPOSITO by Alessio Fava

Yuri is a man with a strange condition that makes him the world’s slowest man. Despite this strange disorder, he leads a peaceful and happy life with the woman he loves. However, after she tells him that she is pregnant, he starts wishing he could move as fast as everyone else and decides to undergo a dangerous and experimental pharmaceutical project to help him. The interesting element of the lead character essentially dictating the overall movement of the film is at once interesting and frustrating. Yuri Esposito the character is interpreted quite well by Matteo Lanfranchi whose mimics essentially carry a big responsibility as far as the feel of the film is concerned. However, Yuri Esposito the film is not even half as narratively original as it probably thinks he is – its structure and storyline much too closely resembles Penny Marshall’s awakening. However, the film was presented as one of the three films of the Biennale College, a project of the Venice Film Festival which promotes and supports young filmmaking. Thus, it is much more impressive as a show reel – and in all honesty, the cinematography and visual aspect of the film is actually quite impressive.