Incantato (Il Cuore Altrove) (The Heart Is Elsewhere) (2003)

71% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(546 ratings)

Written and directed by Italian filmmaker Pupi Avati, Il Cuore Altrove is a romantic drama centering on Nello, a college Humanities teacher played by Neri Marcoré. His parents are well-to-do tailors who work for the Pope, and they don't approve of Nello's line of work. At their urging, Nello moves… More Written and directed by Italian filmmaker Pupi Avati, Il Cuore Altrove is a romantic drama centering on Nello, a college Humanities teacher played by Neri Marcoré. His parents are well-to-do tailors who work for the Pope, and they don't approve of Nello's line of work. At their urging, Nello moves to Bologna where he meets and falls in love with Angela, a local blind girl played by Vanessa Incontrada. But their relationship isn't a simple one. Her parents don't believe that a simple teacher is worthy of their daughter, his parents protest because she is blind, and her ex-boyfriend may not be completely out of the picture. Adding one more wrench in the gears is a doctor who might be able to restore Angela's sight, leading Nello to wonder if she'll still feel for him if she isn't blind. Giancarlo Gianinni also stars as Nello's father. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Pupi Avati
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 24, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Oct 3, 2006
Studio: Northern Arts Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
Avati provides no real emotional counterweight for all the whimsy and nonsense, and the movie carries neither the force of morality nor the titillation of trashiness.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
A mostly pleasant entertainment.
Michael Booth, Denver Post
Charmingly embodying the dreamy seeker, Neri Marcore as Nello has a dignity and forcefulness that illuminate this winning tale.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A poignant love story, laced with tenderness and gentle humor and told with the warmth of Italian movies in their seductively good-natured mode.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
It's a warm bath experience, soap-sudsed with sentimentality, improbability and other storytelling misdemeanors.
Robert Dominguez, New York Daily News
Touching, if slow-moving, Italian import.
Kim Williamson, Boxoffice Magazine
There are few outright laughs, but the telling is gentle.
Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly
Under Avati's shaky stewardship, the picture is leaden and charmless.
Ethan Alter, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A sweet, charming and entirely forgettable romantic comedy.