I was privileged to assist at the first public screening of "K. Il Bandito" This fictional life of a Venetian bandit is told through an artist's eye with a remarkable disregard for all of the present trends. That is to say I've never seen a film quite like it. An emotional ride through an inedited, unknown and fascinating Venice. Martin Donovan, the director, makes his first Italian language film, without following any pre- existing guidelines. Before the screening, Donovan, introduced it to his cast saying:"The film is strange and imperfect like me but fortunately it has inherited your beauty" He wasn't kidding. The beauty of the film is sometimes breathtaking. The cast of mostly unknown actors is one of its most startling aspects. Pierluigi Coppola stars as the "K" of the title. He carries the film with the aplomb of a seasoned player. Physical, sensual, a sort of Mediterranean Errol Flynn with heartbreaking depth. His transformation throughout the film is not just convincing but deeply moving. Martina Stella, his wife, a ravishing presence that dives deep into the psyche of a character trapped in her love for a man destined to be defeated. Every character in the film is treated like a protagonist without ever detracting from the main story. Lina Sastri, as the mother, is another standout. She goes for her tragic prostitute with her humanity coming to the fore only when nobody can see her. The narrative is at times a bit jumpy, or at least that's what I thought then. Now what remains in my mind is a vivid recollection of the emotion in the faces that dominate the film, a powerful hunting score and a visceral need to see it again.
Review of K. Il bandito
