Luna e l'altra

Running time: N/A

Luna di Capua and her shadow have a story to tell. It begins in Milan in 1955, as Luna spends her days, a dedicated teacher with a rigid agenda, not just for her students, but for herself. She doesn't even have time to notice Angelo, the school's janitor, who has been in love with Luna for years. But Luna's life is about to change. The Panforti Circus has come to town, and through a twist of fate, Luna comes into possession of Igor's magic lantern. One stormy night is all it takes for the lantern to work its "mojo", as a lightning bolt provides the perfect opportunity for Luna's suppressed, free-spirited soul to break free; in the form of her shadow. Luna's shadow has always been stuck to Luna. But now unfettered to live on its own, to be alive for the first time, has given it a chance to see movies, find an apartment of its own and most importantly fall in love. But where does this leave Luna? Director Maurizio Nichetti (The Icicle Thief), one of the most popular and talented filmmakers in the history of Italian Cinema, has concocted one of the most charming cinematic experiences of the year with Luna e l'altra. His incredible comprehension of how to create believable, whimsical characters does not just reveal his capable understanding of comedic elements, but his mastery of them. And it is, by far, Nichetti's natural perceptiveness of the human soul, the actors' powerful performances and a uniqueness all its own which makes Luna e l'altra a film which finds the best place in all of us. --Mike Rabehl