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Melissa P.
2005 100 min Italy, Spain 18+
★5.2
Drama
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Trailers
Description
An adolescent girl, living with her mother and her grandmother, will have her first sexual experiences in a heavy and excessive way.
Worldwide:
$7.45M
Starring
María Valverde
Actor
Letizia Ciampa
Actor
Primo Reggiani
Actor
Awards
1 nomination total
Key opinion
Melissa P. is a polarizing drama that attempts to navigate the complexities of adolescent sexual awakening and emotional isolation. While some viewers appreciate its raw, cautionary, and educational tone regarding teenage vulnerability, others find the narrative shallow, poorly adapted from the source material, and lacking in coherent character motivation.
| Theme | The narrative effectively highlights the theme of parental neglect and the resulting emotional isolation of the protagonist. | |
| Culture | The film functions as a stark, cautionary tale for teenage audiences, warning against the dangers of seeking validation through reckless sexual behavior. | |
| Acting | Maria Valverde's performance is a major point of contention: some find her portrayal of the protagonist authentic and emotionally resonant, while others view it as one-dimensional and lackluster. | |
| Adaptation | The adaptation is criticized for being superficial and messy, with many viewers feeling it lacks the nuance, depth, or structural integrity of the original novel. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided between those who find the story a compelling exploration of adolescent mistakes and those who deem it a confusing, poorly motivated, or morally hollow experience. |