Tells a complicated story of life, death, politics, loneliness, religion, drugs, animals, and everything else in the most simple, but funny, tragic, educational, and inspiring way. The segment with the lone goat is particularly moving.

A beautiful film that immerses the viewer in the created world. Without the aid of words, Frammartino is still able to provide a strong sense of connection to his subject matter, animate and inanimate. The standout shot involves multiple 180 degree turns, sometimes with the slightest differences in them and with a dog doing what seems only a human actor could be trained to do.

A sometimes compelling, contemplative flick that people will read too much into.

goats

Mesmerising film, if a little self-indulgent. Obviously made with a lot of thought and love but goes out of its way, particularly towards the end, to drive its point home after all areas of intrigue are explained and connections made. (The end was 10 minutes too long.)

Bela Tarr should have taken some notes from The Four Times before making his wildly overrated "Turin Horse". The Four Times is a wordless poem, much of it in long still shots which qualify as tableaux vivantes, but it has a substantial plot very much worth following, even when at times, the characters driving it are animals. I sensed slight echoes of Olmi's "Tree of Wooden Clogs". A pretty and affecting film.

The absence of dialogue is undoubtedly the film's greatest foothold, allowing you to take in its scenic landscape without losing track of the message it tries to get across (punctuated by what's unquestionably one of my favorite shots of recent years that can't help but bring to mind 2001's most infamous shot). Therein lies the rub I guess; Granted it receives some of your well-deserved consideration, Le Quattro Volte should grab hold of your heart as a disheartening and cathartic experience.

An unobtrusive film that goes quietly about its business with long takes, leaving plenty of space for you to sit back and contemplate the wonders of nature, the meaning of life, perhaps also what you are going to have for dinner and did you close the front gate on your way out. Frammartino only offers the barest of hints at meaning, and it's really up to the viewer to find their own interpretation or message. A hard film to truly fall in love with, but not too repulsively boring either.

An utter joy, an extremely minimalistic take on life and death (with potential reincarnation as well) in an Italian village and yet, including segments following a baby goat and a tree through their lives and deaths, its message is clear and extremely powerful. The framing of scenes like postcards (or the work of Roy Andersson) was an inspired choice, both breathtaking and leading to probably one of the best comedic moments you will find in an art film. It's a unique gem.

Modest, contemplative film that doesn't provide much to chew on.

Like the love child of Bunuel and Bresson, with some You, the Living thrown in for good measure. Just gorgeous.

"There's certainly no shortage of contemplative static-camera films filling out the festival circuit, but at its worst, Frammartino's movie plays like a parody of this popular approach." - Andrew Schenker

26 subat 11, ifistanbul2011 & festivalin izledigim en iyi filmi. ilk yirmi dakika hikayeye ve anlatim tarzina girmek icin zorlaniyorsunuz ama daha sonrasi filme tamamen kaptiriyorsunuz. filmde hic konusma yok, basrol yasli bir adam iken daha sonra oglak, bir agac veya komur olabiliyor. cunku hayat her yerde. ve kamera hayati takip ediyor. ozellikle kameranin yolda iki uc kez kesintisiz pan yaptigi ve adamin oldugu plani cok sevdim. sinemadaki siirselligin karsiligi.. muthis hayranlik duydum.

molto buono

Visually engaging and watered-down. The long and static shots, along with this quite rare (nature-like) calmness helps to experience this movie better, as it is very reflecting.

perfect, there is no unnecessary shots. Wonderful depth.