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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
Honestly, you probably already know if you’re the type of person who sits through these archival finds. If you crave stately pacing and actors who treat every line like a final confession, dive in. If you want a movie that moves, or even just walks at a brisk pace, look elsewhere. You will be bored out of your mind within ten minutes.
It’s based on a J.M. Barrie story, and you can tell. It feels very much like a play that forgot it had a camera pointed at it. The rooms feel small, even when they’re supposed to be fancy.
There’s a lot of sitting around and talking about things that happened years ago. Oreste Bilancia is doing a lot of work with his eyebrows alone. Every time he enters a room, you know something significant is about to be avoided or hinted at.
There’s this one scene where Soava Gallone is just staring out a window. It goes on forever. I checked my phone twice, and when I looked back, she was still staring. It wasn't profound. It was just a long time to look at a window. 🕰️
The “secret” is one of those things that feels huge to the characters but might make you shrug. It lacks the punch of something like The Dishonored Medal, which at least keeps the gears turning. This film is more interested in the mood of regret than the actual plot.
I found myself comparing it to A Man's Home in my head. Both have that stiff, formal energy. But at least that one has a bit more heart to it. This feels like a ghost of a movie that doesn't quite remember its own punchline.
Still, there’s a charm to how dusty it all is. It’s not trying to impress you. It just exists. Sometimes, that’s enough for a rainy Tuesday night. 🌧️