'18 Presents' Movie Review

Introduction

A child always needs a mother, but in this case, Anna Girotto grew up without hers. All she had to remember her mother by were 18 presents. Anna not ready to embrace her womanhood, takes a trip down an unknown memory lane to learn about a true woman.

Key themes

Pregnant Elisa goes to her usual job and notices that she is wet in her crotch area. She visits the hospital and the Doctor informs her of bad news. Elisa's unborn child, a girl, is safe and sound, however, Elisa has a growing tumour.

Anna is born. Montage of Anna's birthday celebrations from age one to age seven. On her eighth birthday, Anna does not appreciate the gift her late mother gave her, a piano. Anna discovers that her mother is dead and not on a 'long trip' as her father told her before.

Anna, now older, is bitter about her mother's death. Anna disobeys instruction from her diving coach and deliberately injures her diving team teammate. Anna unwilling to see her 18th gift for her 18th birthday, runs away instead of celebrating with her family.

Anna gets picked up by a rich man. When at the bar, the man, Walter, identifies Anna and realises that her father was his former soccer coach. Anna runs away when Walter calls her father, Alessio, and gets hit by a car.

When hit by the car, Anna is transitioned from reality to allusion and 'travels' back to the day when her late mother, Elisa, discovered she had cancer, whilst pregnant with unborn Anna.

Elisa takes Anna to her home and Anna stays the night. The next day Elisa drops Anna at the hospital thinking that is the last she will see of Anna.

Anna follows Elisa around the hospital, aiming to get to know her late mother and Elisa ends up helping Anna to get a temporary job.

Anna goes back to Elisa and they converse for a while. Elisa realises she forgot her house keys and her and Anna are locked out. They go to a hotel and bond in the swimming pool.

Elisa finally tells Alessio about her tumour. They visit the hospital and are informed about a protocol that can help reduce 30% of the effectiveness of the cancer.

Anna goes back to Elisa and Elisa 'employs' Anna to help her choose gifts for her unborn child.

Elisa and Alessio get married. Elisa and Anna choose Anna's 18th birthday gift, the final gift Elisa has been struggling on.

Anna wakes up from a coma in reality.

Before giving birth to Anna, Elisa changes her last gift to Anna. She writes a letter and gives her the recipe of her 'apple fritters'.

Anna back at home from the hospital, gets ready for her 'welcome home' party. Alessio gives Anna a gift, the dress that Elisa originally wanted to give Anna for her 18th birthday.

Anna wears the dress and celebrates with her family.

Key observations

• Anna is a diver/swimmer and she smokes. That is a bad health choice for her sport that her father should not support.
• How did Anna manage to light her cigarette when Alessio threw away the only lighter accessible to her?
• Is Walter a soccer player? He mentioned having clients - what is his occupation? Why is he so wealthy?
• Why would the doctor tell Elisa that abortion is an option, in order to allow the cancer procedure to proceed, when Elisa was heavily pregnant? That cannot and should not happen.
• Why didn't Elisa find out about her cancer sooner? Why when she is over six months pregnant? Elisa had a miscarriage in the past, indicating that she should have been attended to closely when she became pregnant again, so why did it take so long to discover the cancer?
• When Anna stormed off away from Elisa, where did she run off to? Where did she go? Why did she wait for Elisa outside her workplace and not her home?
• Where were Alessio's parents at the wedding? Does Alessio have parents?
• For a heavily pregnant women with Stage 3 breast cancer, Elisa should have been well taken care of, she should have had more medical attention than she did.
• Where did Alessio drive off to when dropping off Anna at home from the hospital?
• Were all the main events of the film Elisa's dream or Anna's coma? Or both?

Conclusion

Fantastic film. The transitions from reality to allusion were creative and well thought-out. The story line was great and all elements of 'fantasy' can be explained practically, which enhances the sentiment and realness of the film. Relationships that occurred, and did not occur, made the film worthwhile and created a sense of achievement which helped cope with the tragedy of the film. Anna finally became a woman, she forgave and appreciated all those that surrounded her. Although she could never know her mother, Anna was able to understand her and that is the most important gift of all.

Cast

Benedetta Porcaroli - Anna

Vittoria Puccini - Elisa

Edoardo Leo - Alessio