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Colin Firth, Perla Haney-Jardine, Willa Holland, Catherine Keener, Hope Davis ... see more see more... , Monica Bennati , Dante Ciari , Gherardo Crucitti , Alessandro Giuggioli , Demitri Goritsas , Kyle Griffin , Margherita Romeo , Gabriella Santinelli , Kerry Shale , Sara Stewart , Trevor White , Gary Wilmes

In the wake of a family tragedy, an English ex-patriot living in the United States decides to relocate himself and his daughters to Italy, only to discover that grief has followed them overseas when t... read more read more...he youngest girl proves unable to move past her acute emotional pain. An Englishman at heart, Joe (Colin Firth) now lives a happy life with his wife and daughters in the United States. Their happy existence is turned upside down in an instant, however, when his wife is driving their daughters home one day and becomes momentarily distracted from the road. Later, as Joe and his daughters attempt to contend with the thick fog of grief hanging over their household, the loving father surmises that a change of scenery may be in order; accepting a teaching job in Italy in hopes that it will help them contend with their bereavement. For teenage daughter Kelly (Willa Holland), at least, the move works miracles: though Kelly was sullen and withdrawn back home, she seems awakened by the endless possibilities that the future may hold in Europe - even entering into a clandestine romance with a handsome Italian boy. Kelly's younger sister Mary (Perla Haney-Jardine), unfortunately, is another case entirely. Despite her father's most valiant efforts to assuage her grief, Mary just doesn't seem capable of shaking the loss. Meanwhile, as Joe rekindles an old friendship with a university colleague (Catherine Keener), his family soaks in the marvelous medley of medieval, Renaissance, and contemporary influences of the scenic, northern Italian city. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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82% want to see it

1,833 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

42 critics

R, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Michael Winterbottom

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Flixster Reviews (231)

  • shawnewing92
    May 4, 2011
    shawnewing92
    After the traumatic loss of their mother, the family of three move to Italy to escape their depression. The film is full of emotion as the family tries to cope with their new lives in Italy and sometimes a lot of tension is brought out. The straightforward story is decent and and... read more the quality of performances are quite good. Despite the simplicity of the plot and story, the film still sustains substance and the value of moving on in life.
  • panta2
    November 22, 2009
    panta2
    Michael Winterbottom in Genova showed us all his skills, except one... knowing how to end the movie! He is a director of such integrity that leaves me puzzled how could he finish a movie like that after giving us details such as awkwardness of hugging somebody at a wake while ho... read morelding a plate of food, the momentary sigh of frustration a parent gives when woken by a crying child before they leap out of bed to provide comfort and a little kiss of a teacher and student where everything seems wrong... At least Mary (Perla Haney-Jardine) and Kelly (Willa Holland) looked natural and they were the perfect casting choice.

    Maybe Winterbottom is one of the greatest living directors but Genova is unfinished business! At the end the life goes on but dissaponted crowd in the theatre is a good sign that something is wrong!
  • merlynsprankling
    January 4, 2010
    merlynsprankling
    If you want action, complex plot and driving narrative with plenty of twists and turns, then maybe, you have to forget this film.



    Co-written by director Winterbottom, the facts of this story are fairly straightforward. Widower Joe (Firth), an English academic living... read more in America, loses his wife, Marrianne (Davis), in a car accident. After months of bereavement he sees a chance for some renewal in a teaching contract in Genova, Italy, and takes his daughters Kelly (Holland) and Mary (Haney-Jardine) with him. Here he is shown the ropes by Barbara (Keener), an old university friend who is sweet to him, though he only has eyes for Rosa (Romeo), a student.



    In Genova, daughter Kelly rebels and stays out late partying while younger sister Mary deals with her grief wandering the streets, with sadness and constant nightmares about her mother's death. Joe tries to keep what's left of his family together as he rediscovers life and love again in an exotic setting-- Genova, a northern Italian port city that is steeped in history and stunningly beautiful.



    With its architectural splendours, the city is itself a wonderful setting. And the performances are solid and nuanced. Colin Firth is an adept actor, if somewhat understated, and both Haney-Jardine and Holland also give performances as his daughters.



    The film resonates with emotional truth and is compelling despite the apparent lack of action. This may lead some to ask: so what's it all about? Life, I guess, as simple as that.

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Critic Reviews

Ruth Hessey
November 1, 2009
Ruth Hessey, MovieTime, ABC Radio National

A delightful sojourn for one indie filmmaker and his cast and crew in a fascinating old Italian town. Full Review

Rob Nelson
September 1, 2009
Rob Nelson, Variety

Genova conveys its strongest themes through insinuation, and modulates its shifting moods through Winterbottom's precisely calibrated DV processing. Full Review

Matt Pais
May 19, 2010
Matt Pais, Metromix.com

You know a movie like this is working when it holds you tight and nervous in every moment, even when very little is happening. Full Review

Paul Byrnes
November 5, 2009
Paul Byrnes, Sydney Morning Herald

Whether you go with this idea might depend on how many times you've seen it before, in sentimental American films. The fact that the film is more artful doesn't make the ghost of the mother less of a ... Full Review

Des Partridge
November 5, 2009
Des Partridge, Courier Mail (Australia)

Genova fails to provide the view with much that is satisfying and instead accomplishes only a superficial examination of grief and the way people respond. Full Review

Simon Weaving
November 4, 2009
Simon Weaving, Screenwize

A beautifully observed, moving, yet unfocused story about a professor (Colin Firth) and his two daughters, dealing with the intensities of feeling after a death in the family. Full Review

Giles Hardie
November 4, 2009
Giles Hardie, Unknown2

An elegant, traumatic but ultimately rewarding tale that will leave you glad to have made the trip. Full Review

Margaret Pomeranz
November 4, 2009
Margaret Pomeranz, At the Movies (Australia)

It's an extremely well-made film, but just a bit too subdued for my taste. Full Review

Jim Schembri
November 4, 2009
Jim Schembri, The Age (Australia)

Though he labours the symbolism of the maze, Winterbottom infuses this otherwise subtle observational drama with the verisimilitude that has become his chief style signature. Full Review

Liz Graham
November 3, 2009
Liz Graham, FILMINK (Australia)

A brooding drama about grief, which is greatly aided by the performances and its scenic locations. Full Review

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  • Colin Firth is in the 2008 movie 'Genova'.  Answer »
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