★ 7 / 10
Honest account of modern sexual practices.
Maverick1962
When a desperate need to make money to save their house befalls an Italian mother and teenage daughter, they turn to the old solution of selling their bodies.…
When a desperate need to make money to save their house befalls an Italian mother and teenage daughter, they turn to the old solution of selling their bodies. There is also the problem of housing the grandmother who is helpless without their support. Unlike the past solution of prostitution, the two use the Internet to sell their bodies remotely by the use of a webcam. Well acted by the leads, there is little actual exposure to titillate the viewer but the director relies on an attractive cast to tell the story and as it unfolds, their desperation creates a tension that needs to be resolved one way or the other. Kept me watching and the photography is excellent.
Read full review
★ 1 / 10
single mother doing shit and pushing her daughter into prostitution
LexterBergermann
"Youtopia" (2018), directed by Berardo Carboni, is a film that attempts to tackle complex themes such as financial despair, the use of the body as currency…
"Youtopia" (2018), directed by Berardo Carboni, is a film that attempts to tackle complex themes such as financial despair, the use of the body as currency, and the alienation brought about by technology. However, despite its ambitious intentions, the result is deeply uneven. On one hand, the film features standout moments, such as Matilda De Angelis's performance, which brings a captivating honesty and vulnerability to her character. The relationship between her and her mother, played by Donatella Finocchiaro, is believable and painful, with a constant tension regarding the morally questionable decisions they are forced to make. The social critique present in the plot, particularly regarding the objectification of women and financial exploitation, is disturbing and, in many aspects, effective. The cinematography is one of the highlights, with well-composed images that convey the emotional weight of the characters.On the other hand, the film suffers from the unnecessary inclusion of virtual reality scenes that do more to hinder than enhance the narrative. These scenes are confusing and disjointed, as noted by one critic, and seem to distract from the central drama, undermining the overall tone of the work. The attempt to blend the virtual with the real lacks subtlety, resulting in a final product that feels forced rather than enriching the emotional conflict of the characters. Another problematic aspect is the pacing. The slow pace, which could serve to build an atmosphere of growing despair, becomes tedious at times. Additionally, the film's ending is, at best, ambiguous, leaving some important issues unresolved in a manner that feels more like a rushed conclusion than a thought-out ending. In summary, "Youtopia" has good intentions and some powerful moments, but stumbles over narrative elements that make the experience confusing and at times frustrating. The film explores relevant themes but lacks a cohesive execution that does justice to the depth it aims to achieve. The mother's attitude in "Youtopia" is undoubtedly one of the film's most disturbing issues. From the beginning, we see a maternal figure who, instead of protecting her daughter and seeking more dignified alternatives to handle their financial difficulties, pushes the young woman into prostitution. It is almost impossible not to question the role of a mother who should be a guardian and moral reference for her daughter, but instead chooses to throw her into a degrading situation with apparent remorse.The fact that she is a single mother already raises suspicions about her past choices. The film itself alludes to her history by mentioning that she "gave" herself to another man before the father of her daughter, suggesting irresponsible and promiscuous behavior. Instead of learning from her mistakes, she perpetuates the cycle of degradation, now using her daughter as a tool to solve financial problems. This decision seems to reflect not just desperation but a total disregard for her daughter's emotional and physical well-being. By allowing her daughter to be "auctioned" for her virginity, the mother completely abandons her role as a protector and becomes complicit in a process of exploitation that places the young woman in situations of extreme vulnerability. It is difficult to watch this film without feeling anger at a mother who not only fails to protect but also actively and directly pushes her daughter into a life of prostitution, without concern for the devastating consequences this may have. In the end, the film makes it clear that this mother is a weak and irresponsible figure, unable to deal with her own past mistakes and who prefers to sacrifice her daughter's dignity rather than seek more ethical and humane solutions.
Read full review
★ 1 / 10
Trash
julesoroa
Worst film I have seen in my life, terrible camerawork, boring and flat characters, dull storyline and stupid scripts. The animation was a disaster and the…
Worst film I have seen in my life, terrible camerawork, boring and flat characters, dull storyline and stupid scripts. The animation was a disaster and the actors gave me the ick. So baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad! And the grandmother was constantly talking about pigeons !!!!! It doesn't make any sense. I do no get the reference. I'd rather be with a fever than watching it again, they probably had a small budget but still I believe the bit more than they could chew and it looks trashy and cheap! The location of the film is supposed to be Rome but it doesn't translate to the screen and the film is overall confusing. I laughed instead of being invested in it.
Read full review
80%
AUDIENCE
5.8/10
3.7K
•••
I highly recommend the new Citadel: Diana series currently on Amazon Prime, featuring Matilda De Angelis. Sounds like this movie is one to skip, but Matilda is amazing in that show (except for maybe the strange haircut).