Dreams from Strangers [Non accettare i sogni dagli sconosciuti] *** (2015, Giuseppe Claudio Insalaco, Daniel De Rossi) – Classic Movie Review 12,631

Italian boy meets Russian boy in St Petersburg, but there’s no love for gays in Russia.

Giuseppe Claudio Insalaco stars in the 2015 Italian drama film Dreams from Strangers [Non accettare i sogni dagli sconosciuti] as Italian swimmer Massimo, who travels to St Petersburg for a competition and meets Italian-speaking Russian  translator Vladimir (Daniel De Rossi), in the canteen. An intense love story ensues, tragically cut short by homophobic violence in Russia.

Writer/ director Roberto Cuzzillo’s Dreams from Strangers [Non accettare i sogni dagli sconosciuti] is an extremely moving film essay on love and hate, poetically done, and quite beautiful. The script and filming have a mesmerising charm, as well as something urgent to say. Insalaco and De Rossi compel attention and admiration.

Insalaco swims for Italy, a world champion. The final Oscar Wilde quote should have everyone in tears.

It is also known as Water Boys.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,631

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com