Feeling Better (2024) by Valerio Mastandrea: Hospital Haven: A Man's Unburdened Life Takes a Turn
- dailyentertainment95
- Jul 28
- 8 min read
Short Summary: Confinement as Comfort Feeling Better (2024) is a poignant drama directed by Valerio Mastandrea. The film centers on a man who finds an unexpected sense of peace and freedom from life's worries within the confines of a hospital. His serene routine is undisturbed until a new patient arrives in his ward, threatening to disrupt his carefully crafted, albeit limited, world.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29429122/
Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/it/film/nonostante (Italy)
Detailed Summary: The Unexpected Refuge
A Retreat from Reality: The protagonist is a man who has found a peculiar sense of peace and security within the confines of a hospital. He is depicted as someone who has willingly embraced this environment, seeing it as a refuge from the complexities and demands of the outside world.
The Comfort of Routine: His days are characterized by a smooth, predictable routine, free from the responsibilities and problems that might plague him beyond the hospital walls. This routine provides him with a sense of safety and predictability.
An Unforeseen Arrival: This established comfort is challenged when a new patient is admitted to his ward. This new individual's presence is set to introduce an element of change or disruption into the protagonist's seemingly tranquil existence.
Exploring Confinement and Freedom: The film appears to explore themes of confinement, freedom, and how one finds meaning or escape within limited circumstances. The hospital setting, while physically restrictive, offers the protagonist a form of psychological liberation.
Plot Summary: A Ripple in the Routine
The Protagonist's Hospital Life: The film introduces a man who has been hospitalized and appears to be content with his situation. He lives without the typical worries or responsibilities of life outside, finding a sense of safety and ease in the hospital environment.
An Uninterrupted Routine: His days follow a smooth and untroubled routine, highlighting his detachment from external pressures.
The New Patient: The narrative takes a turn with the arrival of a new person in his hospital ward. This event is poised to alter the protagonist's established equilibrium.
Unfolding Dynamics: The film will likely explore the interactions and evolving relationship between the protagonist and the new patient, and how this new dynamic impacts his perception of his "safe" hospital life.
Director's Vision: Finding Peace in Confinement
Valerio Mastandrea likely aimed to explore the paradox of finding peace and freedom within a confined space, such as a hospital.
His vision would involve examining how individuals cope with and adapt to limited circumstances, potentially finding a unique form of comfort in detachment from external responsibilities.
Mastandrea, known for his nuanced portrayals of human emotion, would likely focus on the subtle psychological shifts and interpersonal dynamics that emerge in such an environment.
The film appears to be a character study, delving into the protagonist's motivations for embracing his hospital life and how his perspective changes with new interactions.
Themes: Confinement, Freedom, Routine, Change, and Human Connection
Confinement vs. Freedom: The central theme explores the idea that physical confinement (in a hospital) can paradoxically lead to a sense of freedom from life's burdens.
The Comfort of Routine: The film highlights how routine can provide security and peace, but also how it can be disrupted by external factors.
Adaptation and Acceptance: It delves into how individuals adapt to their circumstances and find ways to accept or even thrive in unconventional situations.
The Impact of Change: The arrival of a new character serves as a catalyst for change, exploring how even a seemingly minor alteration can profoundly affect a carefully constructed existence.
Human Connection: The interaction between the protagonist and the new patient will likely explore the fundamental human need for connection, even when one seeks isolation.
Key Success Factors: Character Depth and Relatability
Compelling Character Study: The film's success will likely hinge on the depth and relatability of the protagonist's journey and his unique perspective on life.
Mastandrea's Direction: Valerio Mastandrea's acclaimed directorial style, known for its emotional authenticity, is a key factor.
Subtle Storytelling: The film is expected to rely on nuanced performances and subtle narrative shifts rather than grand dramatic gestures.
Awards & Nominations: A Strong Festival Start
"Feeling Better" quickly gained recognition on the festival circuit, particularly at the Venice Film Festival and the Nastri d'Argento Awards.
81st Venice International Film Festival (2024):
Opened the Orizzonti competition section.
Nominated: Orizzonti Award for Best Film.
Nastro d'Argento Awards 2025:
Winner: Best Story (for Valerio Mastandrea).
Additional Festival Selections: The film was also selected for other international festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival, and Madrid Italian Film Festival (2024).
Summary: "Feeling Better" premiered as the opening film of the Orizzonti section at the Venice Film Festival, earning a nomination for Best Film. It also won the Nastro d'Argento for Best Story in 2025 and was featured in several other prestigious international film festivals.
Critics' Reception: Poignant, Surreal, and Emotionally Resonant
Critical reception for "Feeling Better" has been largely positive, with reviewers praising its unique concept, Valerio Mastandrea's multi-faceted involvement, and its sensitive handling of profound themes.
Originality and Genre Blend: The film is described as a "small and surreal romantic comedy" that cleverly deviates from typical hospital or ghost films due to its "very original central idea." It's seen as an "accessible cinematic take on existentialism" with a "crowd-pleasing sweep and quirky verve."
Mastandrea's Performance and Direction: Valerio Mastandrea's dual role as director, co-writer, and lead actor is highly commended. Critics note his ability to deliver a "demanding performance – both emotionally and physically" while maintaining objectivity as a director. His "world-weary, hangdog charm" and "curmudgeonly acting persona" are highlighted as perfectly suited for the protagonist.
Sensitive Screenplay: The screenplay, co-written with Enrico Audenino, is praised for being "sensitive" and managing to be "both overwhelmingly sad and infectiously [hopeful]" without resorting to melodrama. It "captures the complexities of the human experience in a seemingly effortless way."
Unique Concept of "Coma World": The film's most original element is its depiction of coma patients interacting on a different plane of existence within the hospital. This "limbo where everyone is on hold" allows for a unique exploration of life and memory. The idea that "coming back to life might be a terrible thing" because it means forgetting these "Coma World" memories is particularly noted as a powerful concept.
Themes of Love, Loss, and Acceptance: At its core, "Feeling Better" is described as a love story that explores the difficulty of abandoning oneself to love, acknowledging that love can "mess up our plans" but is ultimately worthwhile despite the pain. It delves into how individuals react to suffering and how meeting love can inspire a fight back against adversity.
Visuals and Score: The cinematography by Guido Michelotti is noted for its "distinct look" and ability to make the hospital setting feel "comfortable and peaceful." The score by Icelandic composer Tóti Guðnason is also praised for encompassing the film's tonal shifts.
Humor: The film successfully injects humor, often through the character played by Giorgio Montanini, who is responsible for many "burst out laughing" moments.
Summary: "Feeling Better" has garnered strong critical acclaim for its highly original and surreal premise, allowing for a profound exploration of life, death, and love within a hospital setting. Valerio Mastandrea's compelling dual role as director and lead actor is praised, as is the sensitive screenplay that expertly blends sadness and hope. Critics highlight its unique depiction of a "Coma World" and its ability to explore complex emotional themes with both poetic depth and gentle humor.
Reviews: A Coma Patient's Limbo and a Restless Encounter
Reviews detail the unique and existential plot of "Feeling Better," which centers on a coma patient's peaceful routine being disrupted by a new arrival in his otherworldly hospital ward.
The Protagonist's Existence: The film introduces an unnamed male protagonist (played by Valerio Mastandrea), referred to as "He" in the credits. He has been hospitalized for some time in a coma, but a part of himself exists on a different plane, moving freely through the hospital, seemingly unnoticed by the living. For him, this "limbo" is a peaceful, worry-free existence, a refuge from the responsibilities and problems of the waking world. He values the memories made in this "Coma World" more than any connections from his previous life.
The Disruption: This serene routine is broken with the arrival of a new patient, a restless and angry woman referred to as "She" (Dolores Fonzi). Unlike "He" and other long-term coma patients, she refuses to accept her condition or the unwritten rules of this strange existence. She is desperate to either leave the place or truly die, yearning to live fully.
A Blossoming Romance: Despite his initial resistance to her disruptive fury, "He" finds himself strangely drawn to "She." An understated but gradually powerful romance blossoms between them. Through their interactions, "He" is forced to re-evaluate his detached attitude and genuinely care for another person, "despite how precarious her future is."
The Stakes of Awakening: The film introduces a poignant rule of this "Coma World": if patients wake up from their coma, they forget everything that happened in this other dimension. This presents a unique dilemma for "He," as waking up would mean losing the precious memories and connection he has formed with "She."
Supporting Characters: The hospital microcosm includes other unnamed coma patients who interact, such as a "clingy friend" of "He," a young patient representing the paralysis of adolescence, and a "Veterana" (Laura Morante) who can no longer stand the limbo. A living singer (Giorgio Montanini) hired to perform for coma patients is also able to communicate with them, providing much of the film's humor.
Themes: The narrative is a meditation on mortality, the concept of moving on, and the courage required to embrace love, which inevitably "messes up our plans." It explores how humans react to suffering and how the presence of love can inspire a fight for life, acknowledging all aspects of being alive. The film closes with a dedication to Mastandrea's late father, adding a personal layer of poignancy.
Summary: "Feeling Better" tells the story of an unnamed man (Valerio Mastandrea) in a coma who, in an ethereal hospital limbo, enjoys a peaceful existence detached from worldly worries. His routine is profoundly disrupted by the arrival of a new, restless coma patient (Dolores Fonzi), who yearns for life or true death. Their unlikely romance forces him to confront his detachment, explore the value of emotional connection, and face the painful reality that awakening would mean forgetting their shared experiences in this unique "Coma World.
Why to Watch This Movie: A Unique Perspective on Life
For Fans of Character-Driven Dramas: If you appreciate films that delve deeply into the human psyche and explore complex emotional states in a unique setting.
Valerio Mastandrea's Direction: Witness the evolving directorial vision of one of Italy's most respected actors, known for his authentic and raw approach to storytelling.
Thought-Provoking Premise: The film offers a unique perspective on finding peace and freedom in unexpected places.
Italian Cinema: An opportunity to experience a well-crafted drama from the Italian independent scene.
What Movie Trend Film is Following: Intimate Character Studies and Contemplative Dramas The film aligns with the trend of intimate character studies, particularly those focused on psychological depth and the internal lives of individuals grappling with their circumstances. It also fits within the genre of contemplative dramas, which prioritize atmosphere, character development, and thematic exploration over fast-paced plots.
What Big Social Trend is Following: Finding Peace in Unconventional Ways and The Value of Routine The film taps into the social trend of finding peace and well-being in unconventional or unexpected circumstances, challenging traditional notions of what constitutes a "good life." It also subtly highlights the psychological comfort and stability that routine can provide, a concept that has gained renewed appreciation in recent times.
Final Verdict: A Poignant and Insightful Look at Life's Unexpected Comforts Feeling Better is a poignant and insightful drama that offers a unique perspective on finding comfort and peace in unexpected places. Valerio Mastandrea's direction is expected to deliver a sensitive and authentic portrayal of a man's journey within the confines of a hospital. It promises to be a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant cinematic experience, inviting audiences to reflect on what truly constitutes freedom and well-being.
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