IR Film Review: THE THEFT OF THE CARAVAGGIO [Persimmon]
The drama "The Theft Of The Caravaggio", disguised as a would-be heist film works on the context of a man searching for redemption in a situation which, even within himself, her cannot control. The film was shot in Malta which has turned into a film hot spot as of late. However this film trying to be a mediation of faith and perspective fails to connect, either visually or within a true story context, because the main character at fault never quite exists in his own world or brings himself to enough of a revelation. Orpheus (Paul Kissaun) is a priest who operates as a caretaker for a cathedral in Valletta that houses a priceless Caravaggio.
His sister is dying back in Michigan in the US and his superior Monsignor won’t let him go to see her (he also asks him to pay for it). The response is a bit brutish but has some basis. Meanwhile we see a path that may or might not have happened in terms of the theft of the art. The local police bring in a US Federal agent to investigate though her exact jurisdiction is a bit vague, Her name is Leone and she is Italian which provides the breath of the basis of her intent (since we don't really see any other back up). The subterfuge and how it affects Orpheus is a little clumsy because it relies on him as an unreliable narrator which is a little bit too ironic to be believed. The cruz of what is happening is revealed a little bit too late in the process. And even when it does and the truth is revealed, its impact is less than riveting because it doesn't really come across as believable. The idea of forgiveness versus guilt and how it is handled in the final minutes really lacks any kind of stakes. The film has its heart in the right place but the delivery is less than stellar. 61%/D+
By Tim Wassberg
