A group of aged Italian males sit round ingesting pink wine, consuming spaghetti and buying and selling native folks tales handed down by their dad and mom and grandparents. It was completely different again then, explains one outdated boy; there was no TV, so folks needed to sit round speaking of a night (although sitting round speaking is exactly what this lot are doing). He tells the story of Luciano, the illegitimate son of an area physician someday within the nineteenth century. It’s a darkish story, he warns. Although presumably not darkish sufficient. What first-time function administrators Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis appear to be going for here's a Herzogian waking nightmare, however the obligatory sense of horror and despair by no means absolutely comes off.
Their movie provides us two episodes within the lifetime of legendary Luciano, a drunk who villagers whisper has seen the within of a psychiatric hospital. He’s performed by Gabriele Silli, an artist and painter buddy of the administrators appearing right here for the primary time, bringing a tortured Nick Cave high quality to the half – in addition to a pair piercing inexperienced eyes excellent for the a part of a loner who is likely to be half-crazed or a visionary. Luciano is livid with an area nobleman for locking a picket gate often left open to let shepherds move. His anger might need one thing to do with being in love with shepherd’s daughter Emma (Maria Alexandra Lungu) – although cinematographer Simone D’Arcangelo’s beautiful photographs of the Italian countryside are much more ravishing than the pair’s deeply un-sensual, mannered romantic scenes.
One thing dramatic occurs, and the motion strikes to Argentina a number of years later, the place the movie goes full Herzog. Luciano is now impersonating a preacher and in search of hidden treasure within the firm of thieving pirates and the crab of the title – a mad folly of an expedition that doesn’t really feel fairly warped sufficient, missing someway in placing photos or temper. It by no means fairly comes collectively.
The Story of King Crab is accessible on 19 April on Mubi.
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