We All Fall Down

Running time: N/A

"Fast, funny, visually hip, but with a freshness." Variety, among other industry trades, has some strong words for writer/director Davide Ferrario's We All Fall Down. Walter wanders aimlessly through his life while others watch him go by. Our twenty-something "rebel without a cause, a job, or even a girlfriend" spends his life bouncing between his parents, his aunt, and the university. Walter doesn't know it, but he longs to lose his virginity. His only serious relationship is with the aunt who raised him. She is sexually unavailable to him, and Walter's "I don't care" attitude covers his longing for love. The pace is often fast, and Ferrario uses offbeat humor and various film techniques to good effect. At other times, the change in pace is thrilling and keeps the story alive. In one memorable sub-plot, to avoid military service, Walter volunteers at a relief center for immigrants. His experience with the gypsies turns the table on Walter, as he has to work with people who echo his own nonchalance for structure. We All Fall Down is a delightful film, with a sharp sense of timing and a strong performance by Valerio Mastandrea. --Jim Schrempp