Diff film review: ‘Like Crazy’

Let’s set the scene: a mentally ill middle-aged woman, a psychiatric facility and criminal husband. That sounds like material for the most depressing film. However, by some miracle, director Paolo Virzi turns a depressing plot into a genuinely funny movie.

Like Crazy (or La Pazza Gioia, its original title) greets us with beautiful shots of Tuscany, where we are introduced to a rather talkative lady named Beatrice (Micaela Ramazzotti). Beatrice is a landlord with an arrogant side, but as the film progresses, it becomes apparent that she in fact is the one being pushed around A few scenes later, the truth is revealed. Beatrice is an inmate in a psychiatric facility for the rehabilitation of the criminally insane, of which she is a patient.

Her condition makes Beatrice believe that she is a rich socialite who regularly meets the world’s biggest celebrities. This very persona makes the task of caring for her unbearable for the facility’s staff.

Then one day a new patient, Donatella (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), is brought into the facility. Beatrice immediately takes an interest in this strange anorexic “user”. After forming a bizarre friendship, the pair decides to hit the road. Naturally, hilarity ensues.

What makes the film so great is Ramazzotti’s performance; her awkwardness and self-obsession makes for some extremely cringe-inducing scenes which, although painful to watch, are extremely funny. Beatrice is convinced that she is sought after by every man on the planet, making for some laughable but can’t-help-but-feel-bad moments.

A major selling point of the film is the cinematography. We are not sure if this is due to Tuscany’s natural beauty or Vladan Radovic’s top-notch camerawork. Whichever it is, it works.

Like Crazy is a great film with strong characters and even stronger humour. It is no “film of the year” but definitely warrants a watch, just try not to laugh too hard at Beatrice’s expense.

— The Young Journalist Award (YJA) at Diff is a training programme for high school and university students who are aspiring writers and reporters. Eight students are competing at the festival this year. One winner will secure a monthlong internship with Gulf News.