The Solitude of Prime Numbers

The Solitude of Prime Numbers is a 2010 Italian drama film, directed by Saverio Costanzo. This poignant cinematic piece is based on the bestselling novel of the same name written by Paolo Giordano.

The androgynous star of the movie Alba Rohrwacher plays the character Alice Della Rocca, with the endearing Luca Marinelli in the role of Mattia Balossino, and Arianna Nastro appearing in an important role as young Alice. The film gives the literary work a visual translation that is haunting and beautiful, replete with silences punctuated by bursts of emotion, where the pause speaks louder than the dialogue.

The pretty canvas of the movie is metaphorically suggestive of its title "The Solitude of Prime Numbers." Prime numbers, as we know, are often considered mysterious and solitary because they can be divided only by 1 and themselves. They are special because they have just two distinct, natural number divisors, which somehow alienates them from the rest of the numerals. Coincidentally, the lives of the two protagonists of this movie have a rather similar trajectory.

Alice and Mattia are two individuals who have been left undeniably scarred from traumatic childhood experiences. Alice is a skilled skier who is pushed into the competitive sport by an over-zealous father. Due to her continuous resistance and growing resentment, an accident occurs that leaves her physically and emotionally wounded. The distress due to such a traumatic experience compels Alice to develop an eating disorder as she grows older.

On the other hand, Mattia, a gifted mathematician, also carries the weight of guilt from his childhood. Blessed with an identical twin sister Michela, who is mentally disabled, Mattia is eternally haunted by a heart-rending incident that takes place during their childhood. As he matures into a brilliant mathematician, the guilt continues to suffocate him, compelling him to self-harm.

Like prime numbers, both Alice and Mattia, due to their traumatic experiences and self-inflicted coping mechanisms, find themselves isolated from the world. They are misunderstood, bear immeasurable pain, and eventually accept their exile as a coping mechanism. Yet, when they cross each other's path in high school in the scenic Italian town of Turin, they understand that they share a common affliction.

Their lives continue to intersect intermittently over the years as they recognize a shared history of self-destruction, emotional numbness, and the insurmountable craving for acceptance. As they venture into adulthood, their shared traumas and unique understanding of each other continue to pull them into the same realm of solitude where they deeply empathize with shared emotional wounds.

Director Saverio Costanzo portrays these prime number parallels with eloquence. He proficiently balances the beauty and the melancholy of the landscape with the deep psychological trauma that the protagonists carry. Through subtle nuances, dramatic pauses, a supernatural aura, and an evocative sound design, Costanzo constructs a haunting atmosphere that echoes the pain of Alice and Mattia.

He uses the profound challenge of mental health and its impact on the characters masterfully. Without making it too overt, he captures the complexities of their emotional challenges. The powerful performances by Rohrwacher and Marinelli bring to life the pain, the loneliness, and the desperate yearning of their characters; they perfectly personify the solitude of prime numbers.

The Solitude of Prime Numbers is a film of emotions wrapped in silence, a journey of two damaged individuals finding solace in shared solitude. It's not just a story about love, growth, or the enduring human spirit; it’s about acceptance, solitude, and the long-lasting scars that life leaves behind. It’s heartbreakingly beautiful, just like its title, and leaves you in a reflective and introspective state as credits scroll across the screen.