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When citing influential coming-of-age films from the 21st century,Luca Guadagnino’sCall Me By Your Nameis frequently name-dropped. Through the aforementioned title, the Italian directorcaptured first love, desire, and sexual awakeningcompellingly, with the characters at the forefront indulging in a scenic summer vacation. Now taking on the role of producer, Guadagnino champions emerging filmmakerGiovanni Tortoriciin his feature directorial debut,Diciannove. Instead of capturing the intensity of young romance, Tortorici decides to hone in on the transition from high school to university, following a 19-year-old college misfit with a hyper-specific literary taste. Although focusing on the hardships of early adulthood seems like an interesting angle (and one many can relate to), the film’s execution is less promising,with the main character’s journey to adulthood becoming nothing but insufferable to witness.
What Is ‘Diciannove’ About?
Diciannovestarts off with Leonardo (Manfredi Marini) packing all of his belongings and heading out of Palermo to study economics in London. Ready to reunite with his sister Arianna (Vittoria Planeta) and fully embrace the college experience by spending the nights away making out with strangers in nightclubs, the protagonist seems to enjoy all that the city has to offer until the magic of living far from home wears off. Soon enough, Leonardo doesn’t feel like he belongs in London anddecides to return to Italy and enroll in another institution to pursue a degree in literature.
Instead of going out with colleagues and trying to make friends, Leonardo spends his spare time in between classes confined to his murky dorm, complaining about professors not understanding the many meanings behind Dante’s works and rambling about his urges to kill himself.As the film progresses, the character becomes even more isolated, leading his mind to dark places and his internet doom-scrolling to get more and more unsettling. It is through these moments of loneliness that viewers get a glimpse at Leonardo’s twisted psyche and, frankly, not much else.
‘Diciannove’ Lacks the Character Development Expected From a Coming-of-Age Tale
The main reason why people resonate with coming-of-age films is that they seem to mirror one’s challenges in fitting in or coming to terms with who they really are in a period of constant change. AlthoughDiciannovetackles the struggles of moving out of home, having to manage expenses as a college student, and dealing with the pressures of passing exams,Tortorici’s film doesn’t expand on how these experiences set the protagonist on a path to self-discovery. The protagonist doesn’t change or learn anything new about himself from start to finish, which defeats one of the core elements of the coming-of-age formula. Character growth is an essential element of telling a moving, young adult narrative and seeing that the film doesn’t take advantage of plot points to further Leonardo’s arc is utterly disappointing.
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“Our hearts and our bodies are given to us only once.”
A scene that sticks out as a missed opportunity for deeper storytelling takes place in one of Leonardo’s oral exams, where he is tested by professors on his ability to break down a section of a classic novel, unpacking its themes and pointing out the meaning behind an author’s word selection. After completing the examination, the character’s professor gives him a grade lower than he expected, with Leonardo refusing his mark right away. Although many can understand the frustration of analyzing literature objectively rather than subjectively,the film doesn’t explore the deeper reasons why the protagonist believes his takes are more accurate than those of his professors. Viewers resort to the assumption that Leonardo is just too stubborn, egocentric, and rebellious without a plausible cause.
The Film’s Stylistic Choices Fall Flat When Paired With a Surface-Level Script
Diciannove’s strength lies not in the script, but rather in the cinematography and score. There are some breathtaking sequences here, shot on 35 mm film, which add a layer of style and intimacy to this project beyond the dialogue. If it weren’t for the way the camera is framed, with DPMassimiliano Kuveillerfinding bold ways to capture Leonardo’s journey through the lens, the film would’ve made audiences even more detached from the main character and his presumptuous identity. The operatic score brings finesse to this coming-of-age tale, pairing beautifully with the scenes focused on Leonardo’s growing interest in Italian literature and classical artworks. Still, these aesthetic and sonically appealing aspects ofDiciannovearen’t enough to keep viewers invested when the film’s pacing falters.
Given that Leonardo often changes his mind about his education and aspirations (which is perfectly understandable at his age),the film follows him in different settings and how these locations inform who he is as a person. His time in Siena is the most explored in comparison to his short-lived stay in London or his final stop in Turin, which makes it last an eternity. Not only because that is the moment in his trajectory that he is often alone, but also because it is where we see him go on a downward spiral mentally, watching content online that might deeply disturb certain viewers. Instead of exploring the reasoning behind Leonardo’s actions, the film just presents provocative scenes that detract from the story at hand.
Despite havingGuadagnino’s stamp of approval,Tortorici has a lot to learn when it comes to making a compelling story that will resonate rather than lose viewers halfway through. IfDiciannovehad further explored Leonardo’s character growth and allowed for his negative experiences navigating university to further his arc, this film would’ve reached its desired outcome. Tortorici’s feature directorial debut is rather saved by Marini’s acting, Kuveiller’s cinematography, and the project’s operatic score. The script offers a few compelling instances, but it heavily relies on pretentious monologues that feel more like word-jargon than insightful. Leonardo might be 19 and still figuring out who he is and what he wants to do in the long run, but his egotistical attitude and unlikable demeanor make it hard to sympathize or root for him. By the time the credits roll,Diciannovedoesn’t give the viewer enough food for thought.
Diciannoveis now playing in theaters.
Diciannove
Manfredi Marini elevates an insufferable coming-of-age film about the college experience
Diciannove follows Leonardo, a 19-year-old from Palermo, as he navigates his academic journey from economics in London to literature in Siena. Leaving formal education behind, he embarks on a path of self-directed study in classics and self-discovery, eventually finding guidance in Turin.
