The Eternal City (2008) User Reviews

Beautiful film-making from promising filmmakers.

[thesporadical · 9/10 · 5 April 2008]

"The Eternal City" is a quality of film that is hard to properly communicate. With simply beautiful black and white photography and a wonderful soundtrack that scores the film far beyond simple background music, the film is a love story of romance, brotherhood, passion, betrayal, and obsession amongst its characters' various relationships, each of which helps to touch on the filmmakers' obvious love for the location of their city, the eternal city of Rome.

Although certainly populated with enjoyable performances, I mostly enjoyed the style and structure of the film, which shows subtly enough, through neither theft nor obvious homage, the filmmakers' love not only for the city of Rome, but its history of fine cinema as well.

Certainly a promising start for filmmakers I hope to see more from in the future.

a feel-good film that defies convention

[beachfirepictures · 8/10 · 12 March 2008]

Sweet, charming, funny, and poignant - The Eternal City is great film with characters who really feel alive. I highly recommend this film for its nostalgic qualities and beautiful black and white photography. I had the chance to see The Eternal City on the big screen at the Cinequest film festival and it was one of the best Cinequest had to offer. Also worth mentioning are the locations in this film. Part of telling a good story revolves around creating mood, and The Eternal City succeeds in this regard because of its locations and production design. I'm not sure where or when this film will be playing next, but definitely keep your eyes open.

Awesome

[blacklives4ever · 9/10 · 25 April 2009]

This film should be widely released. I saw it tonight at the Salem Film Festival in Oregon and thought of it as one of the most original and beautiful films that has come out in the past several years. It has the feel to it of Italian films of the 1940s-60s, which is what the filmmakers were going for. It's an independent film, and sometimes it shows by seeming slightly amateur in its editing and making, though not much - for the most part, it is a very professional film. The scenes that are not there to move the plot along always have something that keeps it interesting, such as a recurring joke or a quirky interlude. I hope this film gets the recognition it deserves.

Job Well Done

[danny-diaz-10 · 10/10 · 26 November 2008]

I recently screened The Eternal City @ the Starz Denver Film Festival. After missing the first sold out screening I knew I had to try and make it to the second. I couldn't ignore all the buzz going around about the film, which left me standing in a pretty long RUSH line both times I went to see it.

The film was most impressive with grand production values and impeccable casting. I felt the story was well executed and completely believable. I recommend this film to anyone who has always wanted to visit Rome but still hasn't had the chance. I spent the entire time laughing and trying to decipher which scenes were rehearsed and which were done on the spot as the whole movie appeared to be genuine.

I wish the filmmakers all the best and luck for the future. They have a great property on their hands.

timelessness

[admin-663 · 9/10 · 4 April 2008]

I saw ETERNAL CITY on the big screen at Cinequest in San Jose.

I left the theater with a sense of delight. What i loved about it was the anachronistic quality of the film-making that borrowed from tradition (Italian mostly) but felt completely fresh.

It has, as the title suggests, a timeless quality. It is sweet (but not saccharine). The performances are charming. The sumptuous black and white cinematography is beautifully realized.

Its appeal is undeniable.

Congrats to the filmmakers on this wonderful first film.

I hope distributors find room for this lovely film.