In her feature debut, Laura Samani directs an uncompromising story about a young woman’s journey to honour her deceased child.
★★★★✰
At the turn of the 20th century, Italy drastically differed from its current national status. It was merely shy of 40 years as an independent nation and significant regions experienced poverty throughout this period. Italy in the 1900s is where the tale of, Small Body takes place.
The story follows a young woman, Agata (Celeste Cescutti) who’s daughter is tragically stillborn. After her daughter’s soul is denounced to Limbo, Agata sets off on a perilous journey across the wild plains in the hopes of saving her from damnation. During the course of her voyage, she meets young wanderer Lynx (Ondina Quadri) who assists in Agata’s odyssey. Small Body explores challenging themes such as grief, religious salvation, and individualist liberation in a gradual but deeply tender and melancholic film.
Agata’s personal journey of courage and purification of grief stems from the moment she loses her daughter. Even before her stillborn child is condemned to Limbo, Agata’s position amongst the quiet hometown finds her lost and virtually separated from the community. After the funeral, her husband appears nonchalant with the outcome of the daughter, contrasting with Agata’s intense discontent. Most importantly, Small Body solely lends the narrative to the main protagonist and her own perspective as she wrestles through merciless circumstances to achieve spiritual fulfilment.
The execution of depicting this harrowing journey is what fully shines in this drama. As opposed to action-packed or energising experiences, the film savours a more sombre approach. Agata’s trek is not glamorised or triggered by exhilarating moments to spice up the plot. Small Body is very abrupt and authentic with its presentation of a woman battling against all societal and religious odds to strive for her daughter’s spiritual redemption. By granting a slow yet grim tone, the story’s more shocking sentiments feel more emotionally penetrating and confrontational. It further assists in accentuating the film’s grief portrayal through illustrating hard-hitting barriers Agata must overcome.Commitment to realism is an aspect that acts significantly for Small Body whether it is evoking the story’s foremost thematic elements or when composing the artistic direction that infuses the atmosphere of the time period presented.
Since it is primarily focused on rendering this tone throughout, the technical qualities that generate the ambiance serve to tell the story. Reality lies amongst the overall production and a sound design which permeates the film’s underlying nuances and motifs. As Agata travels a treacherous path for her daughter, various landscapes such as the woodlands, mountains, rivers, and quaint civilisations guide her through the perilous trek. Whilst these environments usually give the idea of tranquillity and nature, their placement in the narrative expertly juxtaposes Agata’s mournful tale, inducing a sense of isolation from the world surrounding her. Small Body employs natural scenic imagery to further demonstrate its thought-provoking elements over the course of the events.
Additionally, the mood is spawned from sound design that arises from each region Agata treks across. A slow-burning yet agonising quest for the protagonist becomes intensified through crisp editing and implementation. Noises of crunching grass, fresh waters, machinery, and passive dialogue essentially disrupt her journey by burrowing into her primary senses and intruding on her own personal self determination. As opposed to relying on spectacular events to spice up the structure, Small Body cleverly communicates its story through subtle yet very effective technical emphasis.
Due to both artistic detail towards technicality and delicate theatricality, themes of loss, grief and sorrowful salvation are exhibited beautifully during the course of Small Body’s duration. Gradual and raw progression is what truly establishes this film as a poetically entrancing experience that will certainly leave an impression.
Verdict
Small Body is a delicately paced and enthralling drama that captures how far one individual will strive to save another’s soul. The methods the film establishes undoubtedly create for a rather haunting narrative that strives for reaching deepest emotions from its central character Agata. Although a slow and methodical drama may dissuade some viewers, those who are seeking for a deeply perceptive journey with nuance and delicacy, should definitely check this film out.
Words by Ethan Soffe
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