Rimini

Richie Bravo, a former pop star from the 1980s, now tours the small towns of Italy with his younger girlfriend, spending his days singing his hits and his nights with lonely older women. Meanwhile, his estranged father, a brilliant but disgraced scientist, lives in a remote, snow-covered village in the Austrian mountains, meticulously trying to recreate the past. The film explores themes of faded glory, generational conflict, and the search for meaning in the twilight of life.

Rimini received a mixed to positive reception from critics, who often lauded its distinctive visual style and unflinching portrayal of its characters. While some found its bleakness and pacing challenging, others praised its artistic integrity and Seidl's uncompromising vision. Audience reception was similarly divided, with many appreciating its artistic merits while others found it difficult to connect with.

• Praised for its stark, often uncomfortable, yet visually striking aesthetic.

• Seidl's signature unflinching and unsentimental approach to character study.

• Themes of isolation, faded dreams, and the weight of the past are compellingly explored.

Google audience: Google users generally acknowledge the film's artistic ambition and unique visual style, with many appreciating its raw and honest portrayal of its themes. However, some viewers found the film's somber tone and deliberate pacing to be a significant drawback, making it a challenging watch.

Selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

Director Ulrich Seidl famously uses a long, observational shooting style, often letting scenes play out in real-time with minimal cuts, which contributes to the film's deliberate and immersive, yet sometimes confronting, atmosphere.