Claire: A Fine Example of Melancholy on Cinema

Andrea Silvestro’s Claire is a complete package of engaging cinema. Claire is a young woman who is coping with the slow fallout of her relationship with her fiancé and struggles to let go of her feelings for him. The story of Claire will lead you through the grief of her character and leave you in the melancholy of her story.

The story is loosely based on Giovanni Cristino’s short story Vista Sul Lago, adapted compellingly for the screen by Sara Lessona and Andrea Silvestro. Though the story is simple, the visuals of the film are impactful and compelling. As a director, Silvestro has quite a vision for this film which falls congruent to the visuals, music and the story. Francesca Ravera’s performance is captivating, leaving it understated and subtle which complements the film’s narrative.

Gianluca Sanseverino’s cinematography is visually appealing as well as powerful enough to help establish the character and its emotions. To the untrained eye, the shots may look empty when Claire wakes up in her bed but the composition of the shot has been planned and executed brilliantly which only adds to the justification of the character’s grief. The long takes let you sink in with the character as she grapples with emptiness. The colour palette of the film is designed with precision echoing the confidence with which Silvestro helmed the project, knowing exactly what was needed for the film to have the exact impact.

The music by David Pinto initially leads you into the film and then re-emerges during several crucial scenes of the film. The use of sounds of running water is soothing on the surface but it actually seeps into the character’s struggle. The most intriguing use of music is during the restaurant scene where the flute elevates Claire’s grief while she struggles to deal with her fiance’s haunting voice.

Francesco Ghisi edits the film to be linear. The editing is where the film gets its final structure which has been done beautifully by Ghisi. It is deceptively smooth and does not bear evidence of considerable thought and effort. But the kind of film Silvestro has been able to create, it is doubtless that making the film must have been a heavy task.

To conclude, the film holds on to your attention from the beginning and as you get to the end, Claire gets a satisfying resolution which you feel is justified and appropriate for her. The film is a must-watch for all cinephiles who would like to experience a soothing melancholy.

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