Martin Eden

Jack London’s novel of the same name, which tells the story of a young sailor on the path to becoming a writer, was set in Oakland at the beginning of the 20th century. In this original film adaptation by Italian painter and filmmaker Pietro Marcello, the setting is the Neapolitan shoreline and the story’s timeframe cannot be precisely determined due to a number of anachronisms. Archival shots in sepia tones, the characters’ modest way of life and costumes evoke an era that came before television screens and the songs used in the film. The collage style of storytelling is similarly untethered, as it combines elements of romanticising melodramas, ethnographic documentaries and avant-garde cinema. The variability of the film reflects the protagonist’s development, which is not viewed from one perspective, but on the basis of his current state of mind and life experiences, which makes Martin Eden a very refreshing work in the context of period dramas and adaptations of classic literature. 85% (10.11.2020)