By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Alessandro Angelini
Starring: Giorgio Colangeli | Giorgio Pasotti | Michaela Cescon
Original language title: L'Aria Salata
Country: italy
Year: 2007
Running time: 87
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805488/
Bruce says: “Director Alessandro Angelini does a great job in setting up his story. The tight writing and editing seem the work of a much more seasoned filmmaker. SALTY AIR is skimpy on plot but the general flavor and intense emotions move the film forward quite gracefully.
“Psychologically Fabio (Giorgio Pasotti) and Christina (Michaela Cescon) are orphans although technically they are very much adults. Their mother has died and Sparti (Giorgio Colangeli, their father, left the family many years ago. He has been in prison for years. Figuratively speaking, he is dead, too.
“Christina is a checkout girl in a local supermarket and Fabio is a prison counselor. Both have serious romantic relationships although Fabio’s is sorely tested by his girlfriend Emma’s family trying to help her raise Fabio’s social status a few notches. At work Fabio deals with all kinds of reprobates. One day, his boss gives him a new case. Fabio looks at the file and realizes the man he is about to counsel is his own father. Because they have different last names only Fabio is aware of the situation. Sparti does not want to be counseled and Fabio develops a tough love stance to deal with Sparti’s recalcitrance. But the problems aren’t just one-sided. Fabio says ‘I’m the only one who can help you.’ ‘So help me, then,’ replies Sparti. Slowly Fabio makes headway with Sparti. When he confides in Christina she is horrified that Fabio is helping the man who ruined their lives. Fabio’s decision to help Sparti get a ‘day pass’ is the turning point of the story. ‘Take me where there are lots of people,’ Sparti asks.
“SALTY AIR, in addition to examining the father/son relationship and the issues of abandonment, raises philosophical questions about the penal system. To research his film, Angelini worked as a prison volunteer. Both Giorgio Pasotti and Giorgio Colangeli do more than justice to their roles. 3.5 cats
“SALTY AIR screened at the 2007 New Directors/New Films festival co-sponsored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and MOMA.”