SVOLTA/ THE TURNING POINT

Italy, 2021, 97 minutes, Colour.

Andrea Lattanzi, Brando Pacitto.

Directed by Ricardo Antonarolli.

This is a mixture of drama and comedy, a focus on an odd couple. While there is some background of crime and gangsters, the focus for the most part is on the two central characters. And a lot of time spent in the apartment of Ludovico.

Ludovico is middle-aged, a comic artist, at something of a standstill in his life, a colourful apartment but also something of a mess. His reclusive. He has had a lady friend for many years but restrained in approaching her. Then, suddenly, a thief, Jack, intrudes into his apartment and into his life, wanting some kind of shelter. Jack has stolen money from some mobsters who are after him.

While there are the crime elements, the main focus is on characters, their interaction, their getting to know each other, trust each other, Jack, especially, urging Ludovico to more action in his life, Jack not quite the thief and criminal that Ludovico thought of him as he intruded into his life.

There are some action sequences, the mob bosses coming after Jack, drawing on the resources of each of them.

Interesting character studies, pleasing moments of drama and comedy in their interactions.

1. The title, for Jack, for Ludovico?
2. The Italian city, homes and apartments, police precincts, drug deals? Neighbourhoods, streets, shops? The interior of the apartment block? The musical score?
3. Ludovico’s story, his father’s visit, critical, supportive? His mother? Ludovico, depression, and studies, reclusive, his drawings, plans for his comic book? Quietly at home?
4. Jack’s story, his background, his brother going to Brazil, his ambitions, the drugs, his brazenness, stealing them?
5. The drug criminals, their background, the chief, his brutal henchman, the headquarters, the thugs, their dependence on the chief, memories of loyalties and fathers? The orders for the search for Jack, the pursuit, narrowing the focus, the apartment block, pretense of inspecting gas leaks and electricity, casing the interiors, reporting back?
6. Jack, the escape, intruding on Ludovico? Ludovico and his fears?
7. The strange friendship, Jack and his concern, analysing Ludovico, giving advice, encouragement, the comic strips, the food, going out to the shops? Gradually getting to know each other, the dangers and atmosphere, Jack talking about the Stockholm Syndrome? And Ludovico identifying with Jack? The girls upstairs, Spanish and Italian, Ludovico and his attraction? Jack and his advice? Ludovico and Italian films, the posters, the student asking his advice, going upstairs? The plan for the meal?
8. The tension between the two in the apartment and the pursuit by the criminals? The tension with the criminals, the henchmen, brutality, shooting the thugs, the threat to jack and Ludovico?
9. The discussions with the girls, preparing the meal, going upstairs, the drugs, Jack and the sexual encounter, Ludovico and his reticence?
10. The thugs, the shootings, Ludovico going downstairs, tortured and interrogated?
11. Jack, the late escape, returning for Ludovico, the escape in the streets?
12. The final confrontations, the death of the drug chief, Ludovico and his dying in the room, tended by Jack, Jack in the street, the pursuit, his dreams of Brazil, his death?
13. The extremely pessimistic viewpoint of the screenplay?