Additional Captures

Director: Calogero Salvo

Other Actors: Marisa Laurito, Mimi Lazo, Patrick Bauchau, Massimo Bonetti, Nathalia Martinez

Italian and Spanish

Set in a rural Venezuela town of the 1950's, Terranova is a story of self realization and liberation. It captures the intensity of a turning point in the lives of six characters whose often conflictive and painful relationships become a metaphor for the challenges of self-acceptance and the inevitable consequences of self-discovery. The catalyst for the dramatic change in the lives of these individuals is the unlikely friendship which develops between Rosetta, the amtriarch of a humble Italian immigrant family, and Noemi, an aristocratic landowner. As the two women labor toward achieving an open and honest rapport about their individual frustrations, they empower each other with audacious spirit and an appetite for change. As they redefine their individual values, hopes and expectations, the other characters begin to recognize and question unfulfilled patterns of behavior in their own lives as well.

From Sandie:
The plot of Terranova -- my ramblings: Antonio plays Antonio, an Italian who with his sister Rosettta immigrated to Venezuela looking for a better life. On board the ship, Rosita had met and married aother Italian, Angelo. He's a bit of a cold fish, very dissatisfied with his life and homesick for home. He's a pessimist. Rosetta and Antonio are more adaptable to their new environment. Angelo chides them when they talk Spanish at the dinner table. (the movie cover indicates it's in Italian and Spanish so I assume the circumstances dictate which is used. It seems all Spanish claim they understand Italian and vice versa) Rosettta and Angelo have a young son Gaspar -- preadolescent. Rosetta and Antonio are close but not unnaturally so. She's very protective of her younger brother. When the movie opens they are worried about losing all the crops and everything because it has not rained. Rosetta talks about going to the local landowner, a beautiful sophistocated woman named Noemi. Her daughter who's on the brink of womanhood just happens to have a crush on Antonio.

Antonio plays a real charmer -- a male ingenue. He has absolutely no malice. But he's a natural flirt even by long distance (as I'll explain later). One question remains as to how experienced he is. I get the impression he might be actually inexperienced despite his ease with flirting. All he attempts to do is kiss and the only one he kisses is Celina, Noemi's young daughter. Of course, she's rather young to start an affair with. But he appears to be a young romantic.

Noemi originally turns down Rosetta's request for an extension of their loan because her business manager insists. However, Noemi comes upon Rosetta after Rosetta has suffered a miscarriage. Thus begins a really close friendship. They're like two teenagers sharing all their secrets. Both don't fit in rural Venezuela and they are kindred spirits whose gap in social class really doesn't impact on their genuine affection for each other. Both have had bad relationships with men and desire romance. Noemi's daughter Celina is illegitimate. The child's father was a married man. Noemi's father never forgave Noemi for keeping the child and exiled her. Noemi lives in privilege but has no real companionship. She has a lover that flies in, but he's an uncaring lowlife. In contrast, the close relationship that Rosetta has with her son and brother seem to be idyllic. [Actually, although Rosetta's family is supposed to be struggling, I never get that sense; Antonio for one has beautifully tailored shirts. And their home while not opulent seems very comfortable]

Antonio has a friend, Roman Stal, with a troubled past. He speaks four languages, paints, and is teaching Antonio how to fix radios. It comes out toward the end that he's a Jew that killed an Italian fascist who had sex with his wife. He goes through the personal ads supposedly for information about his wife and son. Antonio also peruses the personal ads. The real comic moment is when one of these personal ads show up. Apparently, Antonio got carried away in his letterwriting and mentioned marriage to a woman he hadn't even met! The woman comes to Antonio's house with her aunt. She has even bought a wedding gown. Antonio hides in the back room while Rosetta maligns his personality to the prospective bride, an Italian who wanted to marry another Italian. The woman is attractive but looks to be about ten years older and maybe half a foot taller than Antonio. [This movie emphasizes Antonio's small size so he really seems very young and in ways naive and innocent, even Celina is nearly as tall as he].

Anyway, Antonio is mortified after jilting the "fiance". He feels like a cad. He's also beginning to feel serious thoughts for Celina. He has to explain to her that there was nothing between him and the stranger that showed up. Things seem to be going well. But Celina has an obsession to meet her father. She overhears his name and decides to make Antonio follow up on his rash promise to go with her anywhere. While her mother and Rosetta are acting like kids (Rosetta claimed that Noemi was ill to her husband and Antonio so she could visit Noemi), Celina comes into Antonio's bedroom, drags him out of bed (dressed in only boxers), and makes him come with her. It is her intention to go to Caracas. Antonio tries to talk her out of it. Meanwhile, her mother gets her note, and blames Rosetta and Antonio. However, Celina is brought back home. Noemi calls the child's father. It is agreed that Celina should visit him.

Things begin to come to a head. Angelo wants to return to Italy. After an emotional scene, Antonio's friend Roman leaves and gives his land and house to Antonio. Antonio announces he is staying to work the land. Rosetta, at the last moment, refuses to go to Italy. She and Gaspar, her son, will go to Caracas instead. In the end, Angelo gives in and agrees to go to Caracas.

The end of the movie is good-byes. Antonio alone stays. Really interesting scene as Noemi runs after the truck going to Caracas.