‘Il Capitale Umano‘ (‘Human Capital‘) is an adaptation to screen of an American novel written by Stephen Amidon, adapted and directed by Paolo Virzì. The story in the book takes place in the US during the economic crisis of 2001 caused by the collapse of the hi-tech market. The action of the film is transferred to Italy in 2008, during the crisis caused by the collapse of the real estate market. Both crises have resulted in spectacular falls in stock market shares, with implications for the savings and financial situation of tens of millions of people, more or less wealthy. The problems are universal, and this kind of global crises have long time ago crossed the borders between states and the world’s economies. The consequences however are local and personal. Starting from the American novel, Paolo Virzì managed to make an intelligent and exciting film, and also very Italian film.
While rewriting the novel for screening, Paolo Virzì uses a method that is not original but which he manages skillfully -presenting the same events from three different points of view belonging to different characters. The success of the screenwriter and the director lies in the fact that we find out not only the different details that have been put together which will clarify the story, but we also get to know better the psychology of the characters, belonging to different social backgrounds and different generations. Virzì manages to capture his attention through a fluent story telling and through the psychological and social depth of his heroes’ characterization. Of course, the excellent acting of the whole team of actors only helps (with a special mention for Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, excellent here as well as in all the movies she is on screen).
‘Human Capital‘ is the film of a crisis, and in this crisis each of the characters will be hit sooner or later. The quality of the film lies in the precision with which every character finds its place in the story for and in depth the description of their psychology. The Italian social environment, with its class differences, is excellently rendered. The localization of the story succeeded well to the director. Eventually each of the characters involved will manage to survive one way or another to the crisis. With one exception. It’s a smart, well-written and well-acted film, the kind of which I would love to see as many as possible.