Steel (Stefano Mordini, 2012): Italy

Reviewed by Cecilia Gonzalez. Viewed at Metropolitan Metro 4, Santa Barbara.

Francesca and Anna are two young girls who seem to be independent, and want to escape their innocence. Anna’s brother works for the steel factory, and appears to be the father figure that Anna lacks in her life, therefore she seeks a close relationship to a man outside of her family, such as in a boyfriend she wants to be intimate with. Anna’s best friend Francesca seems to be trying to discover her sexuality as well.
I enjoyed watching both Anna and Francesca’s stories, but the majority of the film seemed to simply follow the wild lifestyle of the two girls. At certain points I almost forgot what the plot or theme was about. Anna and Francesca both seem to be lacking positive male figures in their life. Anna has her older brother who took over the role of her father while he was away for quite some time, in which he then appears for a short period of time and then leaves. Anna’s brother works hard in the steel factory, a job that appears to be the destined future for many of the boys in this particular Italian community. However, from the scenes of the steel factory that are shown in the film it appears that the steel factory isn’t the most safe place to be working, and an awful even is expected to happen at any moment.
I found that this film didn’t have a very anticipated or structured incline towards a climax, until the unexpected happened. The climax is finally reached in the film in the most unexpected way. Right when I thought the film wasn’t getting anywhere, or tying any of the lose ends of the story together, it wraps them all up and answered my question about the main female characters. Anna loses an important significant figure in her life, which may have become the answer as to why she was the way she was. Anna seemed to be very promiscuous, or yearning for the attention of other men. Her brother was by her side, but her father wasn’t seen throughout most of the film, until he makes an unexpected arrival to her home.
Francesca is Anna’s best friend, and while she’s a beautiful girl that seems to have the attention of many boys without trying, she also seems confused about her sexuality. There are certain instances in this film that play with Francesca’s experimentation of her sexuality and her identity. There are also moments when Francesca pushes Anna away because she was blown-off for a boy.

This story can be relatable to other young girls who are going through changes in their life, and have yet to claim their identity in life. They’re young women who seem quick to grow up, but aren’t’ prepared to take on the mature responsibilities of a real woman. Although narrative, this film is shot in similar ways to a documentary. It follows the life of the two Italian girls living in a community that the men in their lives are usually sent to work in the Steel Mill. The film also shows a good job exposing the nitty, gritty, and dirty work involved in working for the mill, as well as the dangers. In a job like that you can feel that something bad is to occur, and throughout the film you are waiting for it because it is built up.