Can wealth make people oblivious to other events? Does money change moral codes? Human Capital attempts to answer these questions.
Based on Stephen Amidon’s novel, it uses an accident to tell a quartet of related stories. Using a pseudo-Rashomon effect device – where the same incident is told from different perspectives – Human Capital is often fascinating. Filled with strongly written characters, it is a fine study in wealth’s sometimes insidious nature.
On Christmas Eve, a cyclist is killed by a speeding driver. Connected to this incident are Dino (Fabrizio Bentivoglio), his daughter Serena (Matilde Gioli) and their friend Carla (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi). Living life in affluent wealth, they initially consider the death a passing nuisance. As the police investigation intensifies, their insular world view gradually unravels. With blackmail, deceit and vengeance part of the mix, they discover money holds little sway in the search for justice.
Although Amidon’s book was set in America, Human Capital easily translates to Italian climes. The theme of money’s allure is universal with the story skilfully adapted. Making it work are the intriguing characters and Paolo Virzi’s astute direction. He generates a true sense of foreboding as his cast of personalities wrestle with inner traumas. Their reaction to wealth and those they meet is often startling. When the lure of generating more dollars is in their grasp, their true nature surface as Human Capital effectively conveys.
Within the mystery of the cyclist’s death is the engrossing intermingling of timeline. Flitting before and after the terrible event, the narrative slowly unfurls everyone’s emotions. From desperation, desire, hate and love, their conflicted ideals become stretched. These scenes are free from any melodrama as the actors portray events with genuine authenticity. Their surrounds are suitably lush adding to the script’s qualities until the captivating conclusion.
Whilst the motif of ‘poor rich people’ has been done countless times, Human Capital gives it a fresh sheen. It proves why money will never go out of fashion with the constant lust for dollars a currency few would find hard to discard.
Reviewed by Patrick Moore
Twitter: @PatrickMoore14
Rating out of 10: 7
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