Like Crazy

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Paolo Virzì directs. Vladan Radović behind the camera. Carlo Virzì scores. Cecilia Zanuso cuts. Produced in France, Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 10 years ago.
• 2International production across 2 countries: France, Italy.
• 3Directed by Paolo Virzì, shot by Vladan Radović. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Original score by Carlo Virzì. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 5Editor Cecilia Zanuso shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 6Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Micaela Ramazzotti and Valentina Carnelutti carry the top of the cast.
• 7IMDB entry: tt4621872 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Vladan Radović

Original score

Carlo Virzì

Editing

Cecilia Zanuso

Production design

Tonino Zera

Costume design

Katia Dottori

Makeup / hair

Esmé Sciaroni

Runtime

116 min · 1h 56m

Status

Released

Original language

IT

IMDB

Like Crazy (2016) ↗

Also by

Paolo Virzì

• 
  Human Capital

  2013 · ★ 7.4
• 
  The First Beautiful Thing

  2010 · ★ 7.2
• 
  Ovosodo

  1997 · ★ 7.2
• 
  The Leisure Seeker

  2018 · ★ 7.1
• 
  Intolerance

  1996 · ★ 7.0
• 
  August Vacation

  1996 · ★ 6.8

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Official Australian Trailer

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Reno2016-12-14
  ★ 8/10

  An unplanned crazy ride. From the writer, director of 'Human Capital' fame. This is a road adventure that's filled with some fun, thrills and emotions. The story of two women and their unplanned journey to their unfinished businesses. Kind of self-discovery theme, but it gets a little crazy as what the title says. If you know Paolo Virzi and his films, then you know what to expect from it. Well, it begins with when a new member Donatella at a mental institution was fooled by Beatrice, who was there for quite a some time. They might have differences, but have some unfinished affairs outside. An unlikely friendship blooms between them and one weekend, the situation favours them to get away. From there where their journey goes and how it all ends comes in the rest of the narration. They both are not ill or the danger as they were institutionalised. Then why is what the film is going to narrate for us. Before that, it was initiated with a simple introduction of them and the situation they are in. It was really a good start, but then between the end of the first act and the beginning of the second was looked decent. Because that part was very familiar. You know, what do the people do when they runaway which were mostly wandering around and enjoying the freedom. I thought it was a good film, not as I expected. Then, ever since the second half was on the roll, it got a lot better, in fact I started to love it. From a meaningless ride to something sensible topic, the narration comes to the point, what it was holding back in the earlier. Each woman's life revealed before to when this story had commenced. So the trip comes to an end when they do what's better for them and everybody around them. Kind of sad, though it concludes in a right way. "A mother's love is all giving, never expecting anything in return." The two lead actresses were amazing. Second back to back film for director with Valerina Bruni and she was even better than the previous film. Because the scope of her role was much bigger in this. I don't know I had seen her before, but Micaela Ramazotti was so good, by performance as well as glamorously. There's no way you could part them and say only one of them were good. I loved them both equally. Actually, that's how their characters were developed. The entire film was about them, and they left a mark to remember this film for them. It's a good film, so I don't think it is an Oscar material as the Italian film board had already picked another film for that. But surely it going to win some international awards. If the same film was made in Hollywood, would have considered an average, because this one got the Italian flavour. The film gets crazy, in an Italian style, and in the perspective of the middle aged women. But it can enjoyed by everyone. I have been watching a few good Italian films of the year, including this one. So I would definitely recommend it. Nearly two hours long, but the pace gets better while the story developed. Remember this is not the only kind, but one of the best among this theme you had ever seen. Ending the story with high emotional was so good, especially if you like that kind of material. I hope you won't miss it. Meanwhile, I'm so excited for the director who is making his first direct English language film. Looking forward to its release. 8/10

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Lotus Production

  IT

• 

  Manny Films

  FR

• 

  RAI Cinema

  IT

Key crew

• Production DesignTonino Zera
• Camera OperatorGuido Michelotti
• SoundAlessandro Bianchi
• Makeup Department HeadEsmé Sciaroni
• Hair Department HeadDaniela Tartari
• Delegated ProducerUghetta Curto
• Production ManagerValerio Palusci
• First Assistant DirectorElisabetta Boni
• ProducerMarco Belardi
• Costume DesignKatia Dottori
• EditorCecilia Zanuso
• CastingDario Ceruti
• CastingElisabetta Boni
• Line ProducerIvan Fiorini
• Co-ProducerPhilippe Gompel
• Co-ProducerBirgit Kemner

Release history · US

When it landed

• Premiere2017-01-07· Palm Springs International Film Festival
• Premiere2016-10-10· Mill Valley Film Festival
• Theatrical (limited)2017-05-05

Also known as

International titles

• Like CrazyUS
• 라이크 크레이지KR
• Folles de joieFR