SPRING

US, 2013, 109 minutes, Colour.
Lou Taylor Pucci, Nadia Hilker, Francesco Carnelutti.
Directed by Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead.

Spring (a somewhat unexplained title, enigmatic) seems like the odyssey of a young man from the United States to Europe, his discoveries, his falling in love.

In fact, it is more or less that but with quite a difference.

Lou Taylor Pucci is Evan, a young man saddened by the death of his mother. He works as a cook in a diner, has local friends, drinks, has relationships with local women. However, in his grief and his losing his job, he is persuaded to travel overseas. He goes to Italy and goes to some of the regular tourist venues.

However, he meets two very loud British tourists (one of whom shouts his disapproval of Americans because they are too loud) and he goes South. Out with them, he notices a young woman, Louise (Nadia Hilker) to whom he is attracted. She taunts him. They encounter each of the next day, she more amenable, their beginning a relationship. However, she often disappears.

After about 40 minutes, the audience is surprised to see that as the two lie in bed, her face is monstrously transformed. The mood changes for the audience – but not for Evan who does not see her. He, in the meantime, has befriended a local farmer and he is working with him on the land, something he finds quite energising.

Eventually, he will discover the transformations that Louise undergoes. He is shocked but gradually comes to terms with her history, long-lived, something in her genes and DNA which transforms her, monstrously. But, after coming to terms with this, is there a future for each of them, a future together? And the film ends.

1. The title? Referring to what and to whom?

2. The American settings, home, death, the bar, fights, friends?

3. The Italian settings? The touristic scenes of Rome? The journey south, the city, apartments, restaurants, the streets? Scenery? Volcanoes, the coast? The blue cave? The musical score?

4. The film as romantic? Romantic comedy? The change of mood with Louise’s facial transformation? The touch of the monstrous? Horror? Mystery?

5. Evan’s story? His age, his father’s death, with his mother, the scene of her death, his promises? As a cook, at the bar, drinking, Thomas as his friend, the fights, Thomas and the discussions, suggesting that he travel? The encounter with the young woman, her leaving? Decision about travel?

6. Evan in Italy, Roman tourism? Meeting up with British friends, their incessant talking (and saying Americans were too loud)? The attraction to Louise?

7. Louise, mysterious, student, tantalising Evan? The later encounters? The sexual relationship? Evan, falling in love, the outings, the conversations, the romantic touches? Yet her putting him off? Mysterious? His finding the syringes? The explanation of the need for her health?

8. Evan, meeting Francesco, the conversations, asking for work, the work on the farm, the lemon and orange tree, his contact with the earth? Francesco, his outings, friendship, advice?

9. Louise, her story, the 2000 years, her DNA, the imbalance? The mystery, mythology, Pompeii? The artwork and her portraits? The books? Evan and his fascination? The gift of the book?

10. The growing effect on Louise, becoming more grotesque, monstrous, Evan discovering her on the floor, the injection? The attempt at explanation? His bewilderment?

11. Louise and the time for her to transform completely? The silence, the mythology? Evan and his response?

12. The film ending?