Genova (2008)

79% of critics liked it
(42 reviews)
82% want to see it
(1,003 ratings)

In the wake of a family tragedy, an English ex-patriot living in the United States decides to relocate himself and his daughters to Italy, only to discover that grief has followed them overseas when the youngest girl proves unable to move past her acute emotional pain. An Englishman at heart, Joe… More In the wake of a family tragedy, an English ex-patriot living in the United States decides to relocate himself and his daughters to Italy, only to discover that grief has followed them overseas when the youngest girl proves unable to move past her acute emotional pain. An Englishman at heart, Joe (Colin Firth) now lives a happy life with his wife and daughters in the United States. Their happy existence is turned upside down in an instant, however, when his wife is driving their daughters home one day and becomes momentarily distracted from the road. Later, as Joe and his daughters attempt to contend with the thick fog of grief hanging over their household, the loving father surmises that a change of scenery may be in order; accepting a teaching job in Italy in hopes that it will help them contend with their bereavement. For teenage daughter Kelly (Willa Holland), at least, the move works miracles: though Kelly was sullen and withdrawn back home, she seems awakened by the endless possibilities that the future may hold in Europe - even entering into a clandestine romance with a handsome Italian boy. Kelly's younger sister Mary (Perla Haney-Jardine), unfortunately, is another case entirely. Despite her father's most valiant efforts to assuage her grief, Mary just doesn't seem capable of shaking the loss. Meanwhile, as Joe rekindles an old friendship with a university colleague (Catherine Keener), his family soaks in the marvelous medley of medieval, Renaissance, and contemporary influences of the scenic, northern Italian city. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Michael Winterbottom
Genres: Drama

Studio: Revolution

Critic Reviews

Ruth Hessey, MovieTime, ABC Radio National
A delightful sojourn for one indie filmmaker and his cast and crew in a fascinating old Italian town.
Rob Nelson, Variety
Genova conveys its strongest themes through insinuation, and modulates its shifting moods through Winterbottom's precisely calibrated DV processing.
Matt Pais, Metromix.com
You know a movie like this is working when it holds you tight and nervous in every moment, even when very little is happening.
Paul Byrnes, Sydney Morning Herald
Whether you go with this idea might depend on how many times you've seen it before, in sentimental American films. The fact that the film is more artful doesn't make the ghost of the mother less of a cliche.
Des Partridge, Courier Mail (Australia)
Genova fails to provide the view with much that is satisfying and instead accomplishes only a superficial examination of grief and the way people respond.
Simon Weaving, Screenwize
A beautifully observed, moving, yet unfocused story about a professor (Colin Firth) and his two daughters, dealing with the intensities of feeling after a death in the family.
Giles Hardie, Unknown2
An elegant, traumatic but ultimately rewarding tale that will leave you glad to have made the trip.
Margaret Pomeranz, At the Movies (Australia)
It's an extremely well-made film, but just a bit too subdued for my taste.
Jim Schembri, The Age (Australia)
Though he labours the symbolism of the maze, Winterbottom infuses this otherwise subtle observational drama with the verisimilitude that has become his chief style signature.
Liz Graham, FILMINK (Australia)
A brooding drama about grief, which is greatly aided by the performances and its scenic locations.
Gavin Bond, Sunday Times (Australia)
Mainstream audiences may rue the lack of a dramatic arc or conventional plot, but this beautifully photographed and emotive tale proves to be achingly authentic and heartfelt without resorting to perfunctory flashbacks and soppy musical montages.
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
I didn't know Michael Winterbottom could make a dull movie until now. Genova, otherwise known perhaps as The Narrow Lanes of Genova, is a strange film which seems to have lost its bearings and its direction somewhere between concept and production
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile
Life affirming and warm, Genova captures a great sense of place as we explore the intricate maze of cobbled streets, the historic buildings with peeling facades and well-worn green shutters, sunny beaches and dense forests
Peter Whittle, Times [UK]
Winterbottom employs a naturalistic style that, in its self-conscious flatness, becomes an affectation, and the complete, wanton lack of any kind of drama is frustrating.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
A tender and touching film.
Richard Luck, Film4
Spree killer thrillers, experimental rockumentaries, adaptations of unadaptable books and now supernatural dramas - is there anything Michael Winterbottom cannot do?
Chris Prince, Sky Movies
With a stronger third act and less spiritual flounce this could have been something really special, but as it stands its merely a solid entry in the versatile writer/director's CV that will no doubt be eclipsed by whatever he chooses to do next.
Allan Hunter, Daily Express
There is a vague sense of unease in the air but this remains a tedious movie in which everything remains unspoken, underdeveloped and annoyingly inconclusive.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Shawn E

After the traumatic loss of their mother, the family of three move to Italy to escape their depression. The film is full of emotion as the family tries to cope with their new lives in Italy and sometimes a lot of tension is brought out. The straightforward story is decent and and the… More
After the traumatic loss of their mother, the family of three move to Italy to escape their depression. The film is full of emotion as the family tries to cope with their new lives in Italy and sometimes a lot of tension is brought out. The straightforward story is decent and and the quality of performances are quite good. Despite the simplicity of the plot and story, the film still sustains substance and the value of moving on in life.
Panta O

Michael Winterbottom in Genova showed us all his skills, except one... knowing how to end the movie! He is a director of such integrity that leaves me puzzled how could he finish a movie like that after giving us details such as awkwardness of hugging somebody at a wake while holding… More
Michael Winterbottom in Genova showed us all his skills, except one... knowing how to end the movie! He is a director of such integrity that leaves me puzzled how could he finish a movie like that after giving us details such as awkwardness of hugging somebody at a wake while holding a plate of food, the momentary sigh of frustration a parent gives when woken by a crying child before they leap out of bed to provide comfort and a little kiss of a teacher and student where everything seems wrong... At least Mary (Perla Haney-Jardine) and Kelly (Willa Holland) looked natural and they were the perfect casting choice. Maybe Winterbottom is one of the greatest living directors but Genova is unfinished business! At the end the life goes on but dissaponted crowd in the theatre is a good sign that something is wrong!
Cinema F

If you want action, complex plot and driving narrative with plenty of twists and turns, then maybe, you have to forget this film. Co-written by director Winterbottom, the facts of this story are fairly straightforward. Widower Joe (Firth), an English academic… More
If you want action, complex plot and driving narrative with plenty of twists and turns, then maybe, you have to forget this film. Co-written by director Winterbottom, the facts of this story are fairly straightforward. Widower Joe (Firth), an English academic living in America, loses his wife, Marrianne (Davis), in a car accident. After months of bereavement he sees a chance for some renewal in a teaching contract in Genova, Italy, and takes his daughters Kelly (Holland) and Mary (Haney-Jardine) with him. Here he is shown the ropes by Barbara (Keener), an old university friend who is sweet to him, though he only has eyes for Rosa (Romeo), a student. In Genova, daughter Kelly rebels and stays out late partying while younger sister Mary deals with her grief wandering the streets, with sadness and constant nightmares about her mother's death. Joe tries to keep what's left of his family together as he rediscovers life and love again in an exotic setting-- Genova, a northern Italian port city that is steeped in history and stunningly beautiful. With its architectural splendours, the city is itself a wonderful setting. And the performances are solid and nuanced. Colin Firth is an adept actor, if somewhat understated, and both Haney-Jardine and Holland also give performances as his daughters. The film resonates with emotional truth and is compelling despite the apparent lack of action. This may lead some to ask: so what's it all about? Life, I guess, as simple as that.