CineFest Miskolc Review: "Miele" is a honey from Italy

By Alex Deleon

"Miele" is a honey from Italy

The Italian film, "Miele" presented another unusual subject, and an unusual actress, Jasmine Trinca - exceptionally beautiful, with a perfect face, globular eyes and a slim body that you simply cannot keep yours eyes away from-- even dressed as she is, unglamorously in jeans, and with boyishly close cropped hair.

Again a story (third time in thisvfestival) of a relationship between a young woman and a much older man;  Irene and Grimaldi.

Irene, nick named "Miele" (honey) has an unusual job which requires her to take trips to Mexico to procure dog killer, Latuna, ostensibly "to put down dogs", but actually to put terminally ill patients out of their misery. 

The subject is Euthanasia, and the complicated psychology of people who want to end it all.  Irene is an illegal suicide assistant and gives the applicants every chance to change their minds, but in the end it is Mr. Grimaldi, a 70 year old man in perfect health  but simply tired of living, who will make her change her own mind about the grisly way she has chosen to make a living -- administering illegal drugs and poisons to people who want to die. 

A bit thin in story line but the hypnotically beautiful lead actress turns  it into a compelling sit through ; Jasmine Trinca, 31, was the actress playing Irene. The pic was directed by well known Italian actress Valeria Golino, her first turn behind the cameras, a promising debut.  

Trinca, a leading light in Italian films since 2000, received the Italian Golden Globe "Nastro d'argento" best actress award this year for her work in "Miele" and the film itself was screened at Cannes in "Un certain regard" section where it won a commendation by the Ecumenical jury.