Arthur Cohn knows what buttons to push to reach the audience. The Swiss man produced countless audience favorites in his almost 60 year career including six Oscar winners. His feel good movies often have the right tone which is how LES CHORISTES and RUSSENDISKO became veritable box office hits. With the adaptation of Spanish bestseller “The Etruscan Smile“ by José Luis Sampedro, the 91 year old may have produced his last film. The adaptation does veer off form the book a bit: instead of an aging Italian partisan, he sends a stubborn Scott from to lively San Francisco. The destination was Milan in the original, but the essential plot doesn‘t change a lot. Rory has lost touch with his son, but his illness forces him to leave his little nest on the Hebrides and venture to the States. He bursts into the organized life of his son Ian who lives with businesswoman Emily who has read far too many parental guide books and wants to educate her son who is just a few months old to become independent. Rory doesn‘t have much understanding for the modern methods and enjoys spending time with his grandson. The bitter old man learns to appreciate life again, but how long does he stsill have to enjoy it? The feature length debut of Israeli duo Mihal Brezis and Oded Binnun treads familiar ground. The warm-hearted tone and Brian Cox‘ gloriously strange performance makes THE ETRUSCAN SMILE a charming crowd pleaser.

Lars Tunçay

Translation: Elinor Lewy