Laggiù Qualcuno Mi Ama (Somebody Down There Likes Me)

Actor, comedian and director Massimo Troisi died at the age of 41, shortly after completing work on The Postman in 1994, a remarkable talent of stage and screen who’s still largely unknown. Documentarian Mario Martone uses his latest feature, Somebody Down There Likes Me, to give a comprehensive exploration of Troisi’s work, drawing upon interviews with the artist’s friends and colleagues alongside piles of his writings to gain as full as possible a picture of the man. 

An early shot shows a youthful Massimo standing in front of a mirror in one of his earlier films, before cutting to him gazing into another mirror, this time older. Throughout the course of the two hours that follow, the filmmaker traces the actor’s career between these two points in his life, covering everything from the star’s philosophies on love and feminism to the gestures he uses while performing, alongside his filmic and academic influences. No stone is left unturned in Martone’s quest for understanding as he gradually pieces together the various fragments that made Troisi a one-of-a-kind performer. 

In this regard, this picture is an endearing celebration and testament to the man from those who knew him best. The interviewees speak lovingly of what it was like working with him, all while passionately and excitedly breaking down the aspects of the performances that made them quintessentially his. By the end of the documentary, viewers will have gained an insightful new appreciation of an artist they likely haven’t heard of. However, this comes with one main caveat: there is no concrete structure in how the subject is tackled.

The film takes a stream-of-consciousness approach in how it tells its story. It frequently jumps between various topics and points in the artist’s life, often returning to previous ideas much further down the line. The result is a compilation of clips and interviews loosely edited together to stretch over a significant runtime. While the material is fascinating stuff, trudging through its chaotic form is far less engaging.

Andrew Murray

Laggiù Qualcuno Mi Ama (Somebody Down There Likes Me) does not have a UK release date yet.

Read more reviews from our Berlin Film Festival 2023 coverage here.

For further information about the event visit the Berlin Film Festival website here.

Watch the trailer for Laggiù Qualcuno Mi Ama (Somebody Down There Likes Me) here: