Ballo a tre passi

Ballo a tre passi is a fine example of the encouraging renaissance of independent Italian cinema, in which young directors are turning afresh to regional subjects and locations. Like L'isola and Il dono, Ballo a tre passi skillfully conjures up a sense of its locale, avoids overdramatic narrative and is more concerned with the evocation of mood and atmosphere and a truth that can be found in simplicity and incident.Set in Sardinia, the film is broken into four episodes that match the four seasons. Each episode focuses on different characters typical of Sardinia, all of different ages, and the fates of these characters overlap from one episode to another. In 'Spring' four young kids sneak away on a long trip to the sea, which they haven't seen before. In 'Summer', a shepherd encounters a young French woman who pilots her own plane. He falls in love and has his first sexual experience. In 'Autumn' a young nun returns to her village for a wedding and amidst the happiness feels a pang of regret. In 'Winter', old Giorgio wanders around the city looking for a prostitute, takes her home but dies happy before having sex. In his feature début, Mereu plays down an emphasis on drama to create what he has called a 'choral narration' with an understated and poetic approach to story telling. He achieves an intense atmosphere though his visual style and skillful mise-en-scene, shaped by his seasonal structure. There is a feeling of authentic regional realism, and an ability to present us with events that are poetic and magical. [S.F.]