I can easily classify “The Girl by the Lake”, by Italian director Andrea Molaioli, as a suspensful murder mystery, however there’s nothing really typical about it.
When a clue gets discovered or unravelled, it’s not a spectacular moment and there’s no dramatic music. In fact even when the inspector solves the case you’re almost uncertain that he’s found the right person since the pace of the movie continues on like the beat of steady drum.
Why is this movie intriguing then? The murder is obviously the main plot of the movie, however it also delves into the relationships between people and how we may think we know one another only to realize we know very little.
The movie has a scene feel to much like where it takes place a quiet little town in Northern Italy surrounded by the majestic Alps where everyone says hello to one another. When a beautiful girl is found dead by the lake, the whole town becomes reserved as nearly everyone is a suspect since they all knew and loved her very well. An inspector from the city is called in to help solve the case, so it’s up to him to uncover all the secrets that the town holds and put the pieces together.
Inspector Sanzio, wonderfully played by Toni Servillo uses his extensive experience charisma and no nonsense approach into getting people to divulge crucial information. He discovers that there are many sad stories to be told reminding him of his own problems at home.
So although this movie tells us that, yeah, life isn’t easy, it doesn’t leave you with a feeling of melancholy; on the contrary, it leaves you thinking that just getting that one smile or experiencing that one moment of happiness is worth everything.
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