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Caro Diario Blu-ray Review

“Caro Diario” is an offbeat film.

1993’s “Caro Diario” (AKA “Dear Diary”) is written and directed by Nanni Moretti who also stars in the film. The film is essentially divided into 3 parts (or 3 journal entry sections if you will) that are wildly different in tone. The first part is a whimsical adventure in which Nanni roams around Rome in a Vespa sightseeing, scoping out neighborhoods, talking about dancing and Jennifer Beals, and discussing cinema. The second part finds Nanni exploring the islands with a friend (Gerardo) as they attempt to find a quiet place to work. The third part of this anthology film finds Nanni developing severe itching. He sees numerous Doctors, gets numerous medications and, you guessed it, numerous diagnoses

“Caro Diario” is quite the cinematic journey. It’s artsy, surreal, personal, and some might say egotistical, but it feels like an original piece of cinema. Admittedly, I wasn’t on board with the first segment as I found the eccentric Nanni to be an annoying subject in this portion (he tries way too hard comedically here). There were also far too many shots of a Vespa traveling streets to the point of exhaustion. The tag about the late Pasolini did make quite a statement though.

Thankfully, the other 2 diary entries are much more personal with better attempts at comedy. Nanni himself is also much more grounded here instead of the almost clownish persona we see in the first section. The second story boasts the film’s funniest moments too with Gerardo getting hooked on TV after not watching any after 30 years. The observational humor about Italy’s various cultures was also engaging from an outsider’s perspective. 

The third section falls into the category of being tragically funny and on point as it skewers the medical world as Nanni bounces around from Doctor to Doctor trying to find a cure and a proper diagnosis. I think many people will relate to this storyline more than they should.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.66:1 1080p. How does it look? The 2K digital restoration is nothing short of stunning. Such a crisp new transfer. Among the best I’ve seen recently. 

Audio Track: Italian 2.0 Stereo. How does it sound? Expect a nice clean audio track.

Extras:
* “Caro Diario” trailer and other Film Movement trailers
* A deleted scene
* “Dear Nanni- Notes On A Moretti Film”- A half-hour making of featurette with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Moretti.
* A booklet with photos, credits and an essay by author and Professor Millicent Marcus.

August 26, 2020 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Caro Diario Blu-ray Review, Dear Diary Blu-ray Review, Film Movement Classics, Italian Film