It’s always a pleasure covering a director’s work from the very start and seeing how they evolve over time. Adam Leon, for instance, showed up on my radar 10 years ago*, and I have labored to check out his movies ever since.
Weirdly, critics haven’t embraced Italian Studies as easily as Tramps or Gimme the Loot; I suspect its lack of straightforwardness is a turn-off for most given how grounded and “real” the other two are. But Italian Studies is real! It just isn’t grounded! It’s airy and just a tad surreal, but…that’s okay! Directors can pivot. Even Leon!
You can read my full review over at Paste Magazine.
*10th anniversary Gimme the Loot piece, let’s goooooo
A Constant Visual Feast 