The Tearsmith folds in an entire roster of young adult romance genre tropes: a brooding teen boy, a love triangle, an enemies-to-lovers storyline, and a strong female lead. An adaptation of Erin Doom’s 2021 bestselling novel by the same title, it stars Caterina Ferioli as Nica and Simone Baldasseroni as Rigel, fellow orphans and sworn enemies.
The Premise:
Now, this troublesome relationship is what Nica and Rigel have to face, being adopted into the same family. The story in itself is just so very predictable, brimming with tension and near-romantic encounters, having hostility on Rigel’s part toward Nica for being his true enemy.
Predictability and Dialogue:
The first half of the film is populated by scenes in which Rigel just makes it plain that he hates Nica. The screenplay from Eleonora Fiorino and the director often ranks on the verge of parodic to the young adult romance genre with lines like, “Are you brave enough to imagine a fairytale without a wolf?” Clichés abound in this film; however, that is also its entertainment. It does manage to hook viewers due to familiar tropes, mainly that will-they-won’t-they thing.
Performances and Aesthetic:
Ferioli does such a good job acting as Nica, even with the more mature words coming from his character. Baldasseroni’s performance is over-the-top, yet one isn’t disappointed about his part. The general aesthetic of gothic and amount of blue really makes the film visually astounding by expressing this world like Harry Potter, winding hallways, and ‘traditionalst’ school uniforms.
Conclusion:
Though it plays safe inside its genre, The Tearsmith manages to entertain. It’s got acting of worth and a terrific sense of style that will make it watchable despite its predictability. Young adult isn’t exactly a genre like it used to be, but The Tearsmith proves there is still a place for them. Perhaps future installments will benefit from a willingness to take a step out of those genre trappings.
Director: Alessandro Genovesi
Writers: Eleonora Fiorini, Alessandro Genovesi
Stars: Caterina Ferioli, Simone Baldasseroni, Alessandro Bedetti, Roberta Rovelli, Orlando Cinque, Sabrina Paravicini
Release Date: April 4, 2024 (Netflix)
