Tommaso

Tommaso, directed by trailblazing cinema auteur Abel Ferrara, depicts an illuminating exploration of the human condition, blending the thin line between dreams and reality. The semi-autobiographical drama, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, stars Hollywood luminary Willem Dafoe, Cristina Chiriacm, and Anna Ferrara.

Set and filmed in Rome, Tommaso paints an intimate portrait of an American expatriate filmmaker, Tommaso (played by Dafoe) who tries to balance the demands of his personal life and his urge for creative self-expression while living in the historic Italian capital. Dafoe, best known for his versatility and gripping performances, fully immerses himself into the character of Tommaso, effortlessly playing a man in his senescence reflecting on youth, creative vision, and the pursuit of inner peace.

In Tommaso, Ferrara looks to his own life for inspiration. The narrative of the film hews closely to Ferrara's own experiences as an American filmmaker living in Rome with his young family. Ferrara's real-life partner, Cristina Chiriac, plays Tommaso's wife Nikki, and their young daughter shifted roles from a family member to the silver screen, playing Tommaso and Nikki's daughter Deedee. This metafictional element of blending reality with art gives the film a distinct feel, making it a cinematic meditation on life, love, art, and self-reflection.

The narrative structure of Tommaso eschews the conventional orderly plot, favoring instead a steady stream of consciousness brimming with poetic contradictions and offbeat humor. Tommaso is an endearing character who teaches Italian classes, loves cooking, cradles his daughter with tender care, and even attends AA meetings, while at the same time, he is consumed by the desire to create art and grapples with the trials and tribulations of matrimony.

The film offers an incisive look into the daily life of Tommaso, intimately observing his creative processes and personal interactions. It captures the essence of Rome as a backdrop: a city of unparalleled history and culture, throwing into relief the artist's personal journey. Defined by his tumultuous past, battling demons of addiction, and the chaotic serenity of art-making, Tommaso simultaneously seems to be a part of, and isolated from, the bustling city of Rome.

On the other hand, Tommaso's wife Nikki, played with warmth and emotional perceptiveness by Cristina Chiriac, acts as the anchor of their relationship. She is the calm and stabilizing force in Tommaso's often erratic world. Their on-screen rapport unfolds organically, marking key moments of the story with emotional authenticity while also showcasing their real-life chemistry. As the youngest cast member, Anna Ferrara adds a certain vulnerability and cheeriness to the film, as she plays Deedee, the couple's young daughter.

Willem Dafoe’s acting prowess in Tommaso is particularly magnificent. He comfortably adapts to the director's semi-improvised and loose script, which offers an immersive journey into the rhythm of everyday life and the creative mind. His layered performance gives us a multi-faceted character: idiosyncratic and captivating, relatable and distant, steadfast yet restless.

Abel Ferrara's Tommaso isn't your average Hollywood drama. It dares its viewers to take a step back and contemplate what it means to be human, to age, to create, and to love. The result is a warm, moving, unconventional, and thought-provoking story of a man and an artist contending with the beauty, and complexity, of life.

Above all, Tommaso is a love letter to Ferrara’s family, his city, and his art – each of which shapes the narrative in its unique way. From leisurely strolls along the leafy alleys of Rome to intense conversations in their humble apartment, from mundane activities of teaching and cooking to passionate bouts of creativity, the range of experiences the film offers is wide and varied.

In conclusion, Tommaso is a masterpiece of contemporary cinema. By blending fiction with his reality, Ferrara crafts an engrossing narrative marked by emotional complexity, captivating performances, and nuanced storytelling. A riveting exploration of life in the Italian capital, love, and the ceaseless pursuit of creative expression, Tommaso is a film that leaves its viewers pondering long after the credits roll.