This was posted back on May, but as it’s going to be screened as part of the Gaze Festival, we thought it a timely repost. Viola de Mare will be on Friday, 29th of July at 6pm in The Project Arts Centre.

Based on the book Minchia di Re by Giacomo Pilati, Viola de Mare (Sea Purple) is a heart-breakingly beautiful film by Italian director Donatella Maiorca. With the emphasis on the heart-breaking.

Here there be spoilers

Angela and Sara are childhood friends on an Italian island at the turn of the 20th century. Their life seems idyllic; postcard landscape, deep blue sea, a childhood of playing chasing and helping mama and papa. Behind the scenes, though, Angela has to put up with a beast of a father. The manager of the local quarry, he beats his wife and kids and treats his workers like dogs.

However, as she grows into a beautiful woman (and I mean woah! hawwt), Angela uses the strength and stubbornness she inherited from her father, to fight for what she loves. Sara.

You can imagine her father’s delight at having someone intrinsically disordered for a daughter. He always wanted a son anyway, so she can eff off with herself.

Until her poor, put-upon mother gets a genius idea; Angela will becomes Angelo (left). He’ll be the son her father wanted and will then be able to marry the woman he loves.

Now, we’re not talking transsexual here. We’re talking “wear a suit and cut your hair, and sure no one will say a thing”. It works too, although in the beginning, Angela finds it hard to be as sure of herself as Angelo needs to be.

Life is wonderful for the happy couple. They marry and live in bliss. You just know it has to go pear-shaped though, don’t you?

When the terrible ending unfolded, I was livid; full of “why can’t lesbians ever be happy in films?”. Then I read that it’s a true story. Reality sucks. In films it seriously sucks if you’re a lesbian. Viola de Mare proves this. Stupid real life.

Viola de Mare is a gorgeous film, just switch it off when there are about 15 minutes to go, trust me.

Viola de Mare is now available on DVD from PeccaPics

This review was first published on Gaelick in November, but with the release by Pecca, we thought it ok for a reprint