Giuseppe Tornatore, the director of "The Legend of 1900", describes it as a "fable." This is wholeheartedly true--for "Legend" is a surreal, elegant film with elements of the fantastic. The story, narrated by Max (Vince) in seamless flashback form, tells the story of a child abandoned on a cruise ship, the Virginia, when he was an infant. The child is taken in by a labrorer on the ship (Nunn) who names him "1900" because he was born on the first day of the twentieth century. 1900 grows up on the ship, travelling back and forth between Europe and America. There is a fantastic mystique about his character (played wonderfully and with great sensitivity by Tim Roth), sometimes shy, sometimes quirky, but always alone and separate from the "ordinary." He is born with an almost-supernatural talent for playing the piano, and he becomes part of the ship's jazz band, where more often than not he steals the show on his gorgeous burl-walnut grand piano. In his twenties, 1900 befriends a trumpet player named Max (Vince), who, during the course of the movie, becomes 1900's closest friend and confidant. The tragic and operatic flaw of 1900's character resides in his aversion to terra firma--he will not set foot on dry land, whether it be for friendship, fame, or love. 1900 briefly meets an ethereal and beautiful girl (Thierry) who inspires him to come out of his shell for only a fleeting moment--and who also motivates him to walk halfway down the gangplank. But 1900, born on the seas, knows he is not meant for the ordinary world--the endless city that he sees when he docks in America. This is an evocative and gripping tale--intelligent enough to stimulate the mind, sentimental and lyrical enough to move the heart. It is a commentary about taking risks and "living" life, as well as finding a place in the world that we are happy with--and it is a brilliantly told, beautifully visual, and features a stunning performance by Tim Roth as well as a whole lot of early American jazz music written by Ennio Morricone that will excite anyone who loves the piano.
Click here to see the rest of this review...
The review of this Movie prepared by Melissa
