Writer-director Pasquale Marrazzo’s Italian, LGBTQ+ drama The Neighbor creates and maintains an atmosphere of sex and suspense from the beginning scene to the ending. Media librarians who specialize in LGBTQ+ films will benefit from adding this under-seen gem to their DVD collection, though it will also serve as an unexpected addition to independent and foreign film collections.
Two lovers, Riccardo/“Riki” (Michele Costabile) and Luca (Jacopo Costantini) live together as an openly gay couple, despite constant harassment from neighborhood bullies. This group of harassers—led by the titular neighbor, a former childhood friend of Riki—ruthlessly attacks Luca, landing him in the hospital in a medically induced coma. Luca’s sister, Rachele (Luisa Vernelli), delivers this and more devastating news over the phone: Luca’s parents ask Riki to not visit.
Riki and his mom (Lucia Vasini) have a dark, complicated history of abandonment and addiction. But in contrast to Luca’s parents, she is very accepting and supportive of the young men’s relationship. At first, she is Riki’s lifeline - besides the occasional phone call from Rachele—when Luca’s parents keep him in the dark about the whereabouts and well-being of his partner.
Flashbacks of Luca and Riki’s relationship allow the audience to grow attached and relate to these two young men. These sometimes precious, sometimes painful moments—Riki practicing his lines for a play, walking together to the train for Luca’s new job, revealing family secrets, arguing about the realities of young love—are the heart of the movie. One of these flashbacks also shows how their hateful neighbor has made their life as a gay couple uncomfortable and at times frightening. Riki feels they can’t confront the man; if only he could look into the future and see the outcome of this passivity!
In the present time, Luca fights for his life in the ICU. The tension between the unknown outcome of Luca’s attack and the stories told in the flashbacks keeps the audience intrigued by the past and worried about the future. Will Riki ever be allowed to see Luca again? Will Luca’s parents have a change of heart and accept their son for who he is? What secret from his past haunts Ricki? Will Luca survive his injuries from the hate crime?
The Neighbor’s camera work is shaky to the point of distraction rather than realism. But it also adds to the audience’s discomfort and keeps them ill at ease. While a steadier point of view could elevate the film overall, the pacing and intriguing plot can keep viewers riveted despite any motion sickness. Unfortunately, the plot’s destination proves less satisfying than the roller coaster of a cinematic journey.
Fast-paced, sexy, and suspenseful, The Neighbor shows how homophobia, abuse, and other unspoken personal issues affect the people surrounding two men in a loving, passionate relationship. These issues manifest in the form of a dangerous bully or otherwise loving parents who can’t bring themselves to reconcile their religious beliefs with who their son is. Writer-director Marrazzo has created an exciting film sure to start conversations. The Neighbor belongs in any LGBTQ+ film collection, primarily those with a focus on independent or foreign films.
What kind of film series would The Neighbor fit in?
The Neighbor would fit into a film series about gay love, the impact of bullying or child abuse, or the use of flashbacks in cinema (with possible billing with movies as diverse as Citizen Kane and Reservoir Dogs).
What unexpected responses do you think audiences would have to The Neighbor?
The Neighbor is the kind of film that could make people assess their own relationships, for better or worse, and audience members will probably want to sit and process the film together over coffee.
What kind of film collection would The Neighbor be suitable for?
The Neighbor would be suitable for film collections with a focus on LGBTQ+ films, Italian cinema, dramas, or independent films.