Venice Film Festival 2024 Review ‘Taxi MonAmour’

Taxi MonAmour, A Brief Encounter, A Journey to Freedom

Taxi Monamour (2024) captures the delicate interaction of human experiences in the most unexpected circumstances. This Italian drama film, directed by Ciro De Caro introduces us to two women, Anna and Cristi. Even though their lives are so different, they meet by chance, and this brief encounter becomes very meaningful for both of them.

Anna is a woman dealing with challenges. She is estranged from her family and struggling with an illness that has enveloped her life. The separation from her loved ones adds to the emotional burden she carries and makes her journey feel lonely and burdensome. Cristi, on the other hand, is a refugee who left her war-torn homeland for safety and is struggling to build a new life in Italy.

Anna is in a relationship with her boyfriend, who represents a part of her old life. However, she remains emotionally distant because of the trauma she has experienced. The film begins with Anna contemplating whether to join her partner on a business trip. Cristi, on the other hand, is advised to live in Italy, where she is safe but feels trapped and disconnected from her beyond identification. However, their backgrounds and experiences may seem isolated from the world. But they are brought together by fate and share a moment that leaves a lasting impact on both.

As the story unfolds, we see how this encounter becomes a turning point in their lives. Anna gets her moment of clarity and a glimpse of the freedom she belongs to but is too afraid to embrace fully. For Cristi, the meeting becomes a sense of comfort which reminds her of the resilience she has had to muster to survive. 

The beauty of Taxi Monamour lies in its simplicity of tackling complex emotions with a light yet intimate feel. De Caro, already known for his unique storytelling approach, crafts a strategy that makes the story feel real and relatable. Manuele Mandolesi’s cinematography is understated yet effective. The closeup shots of characters’ faces capture the subtle shifts in their expressions adds depth to the storytelling. 

Rosa Palaciano as Anna and Yeva Psi as Christie are nothing short of amazing. Palaschiano portrays Anna’s frailty and inner struggles with quiet strength, while Sai brings resilience and determination to Christy’s character. Their on-screen chemistry is palpable, and their brief connection is filled with real emotion.

Taxi Monamur is more than just two women meeting; it shares the universal themes of connection, loss, and finding meaning in difficult times. It’s a film that stays in your mind with a beautiful reminder of the connections that can form in the most unexpected circumstances and the profound impact they can have on our lives. — Taxi Monamour is a film worth watching, not just for its story but for the emotions it evokes and the thoughts it provokes.

Watch the trailer for Taxi Monamour below

Taxi MonAmour will have its premier on Tues, Sept 3 at 4:45pm- Sala Perla , Learn more about Venice film festival here