Product Details

• Actors: Adam Neal Smith, Alessandro Calza
• Directors: Yen Tan
• Format: Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: E1 Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: March 23, 2010
• Run Time: 87 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00316DDZY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,432 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Ciao" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: E1 Release Date: 03/23/2010 Run time: 87 minutes Rating: R

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ciao is a must have addition to any DVD collection., March 23, 2010

By 

Lerone Landis (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ciao (DVD)

After a two year wait the movie that became a darling on the film festival circuit back in 2008 is finally available on DVD, Ciao. Ciao is latest work by Dallas filmmaker Yen Tan and begins with Jeff (Adam Neil Smith) informing an out of town stranger that their mutual friend, Mark, has passed away. The strangers, Andrea (Alessandro Calza), travel plans to visit Mark are subsequently cut short upon the dreadful news. It is here, in most circumstances that the door to such a story would have closed. Instead Ciao opens a door of possibilities and delves into a narrative about a loss and a find.

Amid Mark's absence and his posthumous role as the catalyst that brings Jeff and Andrea together it'll be easy for the audience to presume what path this new relationship is headed toward, but fortunately Ciao is not that predictable. The assumption of how this story turns out is largely due to the obvious attraction between Andrea and Jeff. Do they fall for each other? Do they remain the strangers that they really are? Not sure if you will come away with an answer to either of those questions but without a doubt you will fall for both Andrea and Jeff. Their sympathetic characterization and their genuine chemistry make it difficult to not be fond of them both and the film overall.

Yen Tan nicely relies on, if not to a fault, the mise-en scene to convey the somber nuance in Ciao. The music, the one too many scenes void of dialogue and the alluring cinematography all do just as much of a job in conveying the various tones in the film as the actual performances from the actors.

There is nothing grandiose or extravagant about this little film and it didn't need to be. Ciao never tried to be more than it was is and demonstrates that less definitely can be more. However, if the dreary nature of Ciao fails to keep your attention, the intriguing dynamics between Jeff and Andrea will stir your curiosity enough to keep you seated. Ciao avoids the obligatory rush of a romp in the sack and in the process one of the best depictions of same sex sensuality, not sex, is illustrated on screen. Ciao is intelligent, effortlessly sexy, touching, and will be worth your time to view!

Due to some repetitious scenery, small cast, and small setting Ciao struck me more as a 90 minute film short. Before you know it the film starts to wrap up leaving you wanting to know more. A heightened curiosity of what continues in any movie once the movie says "ciao" is always a good sign that something was done right and with Ciao Yen Tan certainly has. Too often the only chance to see an indie film is at a film festival. This a rare second chance to see a wonderfully written and crafted film that's not a cookie cutter of a Hollywood production...take advantage of it.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwrenchingly Subtle - Beautiful, June 15, 2010

By 

Cynthia Jendrejcak - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ciao (DVD)

This was a wonderfully subtle film. Although primarily focusing on Jeff and Andrea, there was always a powerful third character present- the overwhelming and mind-numbing grief both men felt for Mark.

That grief was practically tangible throughout the entire film and I think those that enjoyed the film recognize that. And to those that say that the film felt disjointed and stilted, I say that it was a perfect expression of that intense grief.

I liked the fact the fact that they (Andrea and Jeff) became intimate the way they did, it was sensual and plausible and more meaningful than any sort of a trope hookup. The minimalist music was fantastic and again, the stretches of absolute silence in the film added to the sensation of grief and loss. The ending worked for me as well, giving both men the reminder that there is a future without Mark, and that just maybe that future could include each other.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you're looking for a soft-porn cookie cutter flick, move on!, December 24, 2010

By 

barbarylane6 (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ciao (DVD)

Well, after responding to the first post that offended my respect of this nuanced, thoughtful movie, I kept scrolling down to see how many people slammed it and thought I'd balance things out a bit by giving hope to the few people who are looking for a film experience and not beefcake idiocy.

This film DOES move slowly. Its about dealing with the aftermath of major loss. If you've experienced this in your personal life at all, in any form, you know the void that sets in. You can barely function and the days are blurry and mundane. This film boldly attempts to recreate that in every way, not just through dialogue or over-acted, Kleenex-filed emotional monologues. The lighting, pacing, music, stillness of shots it all adds up to create the nuanced mood that I thought was a major triumph for the film.

The unique nature of some of the shots ARE off-setting at times, but they always happen in moments in the film when we SHOULD feel awkward--dinner w/ a stranger, cleaning out the deceased's home, walking into the bedroom with a hottie you don't know/shouldn't be attracted to. B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T!!!! Kudos to the filmmakers for believing in viewers; that we actually want to think for ourselves at times. Especially in an age when everyone wants to "make it big" and knows the formula to do it, I loved that this was SO far from what I expected. The scene everyone quoted as terrible with the actors moving out of focus was my favorite cinema moment of the past few years. The shot stays on the doorway, which frames the bed, as they continue around the corner with mundane, awkward convo, but the visual focus is what's on everyone's mind: the source of the sexual tension. Will they? Wont they? Should they even think about it? Why not? The dialogue becomes a background noise and in this moment the viewer is part of the film. We've all had this moment.

While the actors are beautiful, this film has a brain. There's no flamboyant friend to make you laugh or gal-pal to tell you what's going on (thankfully the Chinese stepsister gets little screen time-she's TERRIBLE!). There's no shirtless bar scenes are beefcake galore. The characters happen to be gay and it is a story many in our community can relate to, but this is not a traditional "gay movie" of late. And thank the Almighty for it!

See this. Be open. Be moved.