GIORNI (DAYS)
Italy, 2002, 80 minutes, Colour.
Thomas Trabacchi, Riccardo Salerno, Davide Bechini, Monica Rametta.
Directed by Laura Muscardin.
Days is a film about an HIV-positive man. It was written by two women, the director as well as Monica Rametta who plays the hero's sister. The film focuses on Claudio, a bank clerk, who has been HIV-positive for many years and continually goes for check-ups to the hospital as well as taking a great deal of medication. He shares a home with Dario. They are to transfer from Rome to Milan. At the same time, he encounters Andrea, a young waiter, and begins an affair with him. Andrea is not concerned about Claudio's condition and is not interested in "safe sex". It means nothing to him and is an expression of his love for Claudio.
This has an effect on Claudio, who begins to clash with Dario, is antagonistic towards his mother, exasperated with his sister who is in and out of relationships. He also gives some of his medicine to Andrea when he gets sick. However, he cannot cope and runs away from everyone. A year later he hears about Andrea's death.
1. Impact of the film? The focus on an HIV-positive man? His situation, his relationships, health, infecting a partner? Inability to cope with the pressures of his situation?
2. The Roman settings? The seaside house? The ordinary life in Italy?
3. The bank, Claudio's work there, with the staff, the transfer, the preparations for Milan?
4. Claudio in himself, his age, experience at the bank, his relationship with Dario and its steadiness, their sharing a home, the ordinariness of life? His chance encounter with Andrea, losing his bank card, the phone call, meeting Andrea by accident at the restaurant? Seeing him, the beginning of the relationship? Dario in Milan? Going with Andrea to the seaside house, the romanticism of the interlude, Andrea's devotion, Claudio's love, moroseness, inability to commit himself? The puzzle about the safe sex?
5. Dario, companion to Claudio, the move, the ordinariness of their relationship, the visits to Milan, his coming to Rome, his exasperation with Claudio and walking out?
6. Andrea, young, his explanation of his family background, the encounters with Claudio, meeting him at the restaurant, the relationship, his decision about safe sex? It not seeming important to him? Running the risk of infection, getting sick, Claudio caring for him, going back to work? Claudio hearing of his death?
7. Laura, her own relationships and family, imposing herself on her brother, staying with him, getting him to go to see their mother? The disastrous dinner and the mother puzzled by her son's lack of communication?
8. The people at the hospital, the medical care, the doctors? Irene and her illness, friendliness with Claudio, the impact of her death?
9. A brief film focusing on characters and issues?
