#TIFF19: “MARTIN EDEN”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Martin Eden (Luca Marinelli) is an uneducated working-class sailor who falls in love with educated upper-class Elena (Jessica Cressy). To make her see him the same way he sees her he attempts to remake himself into a Writer.

Director Pietro Marcello adapts the Jack London Novel of the same name in an inspiring unconventional way. It’s clear from the beginning that Marcello is making a politically charged film, and one of which he is entirely on one side of. This is a specific story of a man whose trying to make something more of himself. Yet when achieving those ambitions they begin to conflict with his ideals. It’s in this grappling that one tremendous performance from Marinelli comes alive. Marcello flips between his own Super 16mm shot narrative with archival footage which emphasizes the political and social elements of his Film.

Martin Eden screens at TIFF on the following days:

Wednesday, September 11 at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 6 PM

Thursday, September 12 at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 6 PM

Saturday, September 14 at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 9:15 AM