After saving Arturo, a young scion of the industrial middle class, from a beating, the sailor Martin Eden is invited to the boy’s family home. Here he meets Elena, Arturo’s beautiful sister, and falls in love with her at first sight. The cultured and refined young woman becomes not only the object of Martin’s affections but also a symbol of the social status he aspires to achieve. At the cost of enormous efforts and overcoming the obstacles represented by his humble origin, Martin pursues the dream of becoming a writer and—under the influence of the elderly intellectual Russ Brissenden—becomes involved in socialist circles, bringing him into conflict with Elena and her bourgeois world.[7]
It was released in Italy by 01 Distribution on 4 September 2019.[13] It was released in France by Shellac Distribution on 16 October 2019.[14]
Reception
Box office
Martin Eden grossed $0 in North America and $3 million in other territories. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Kino Lorber had opted for a VOD release.[2][3]
Critical response
On review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 87% based on 108 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. According to the website's critical consensus: "Martin Eden uses one man's quest for fulfillment as fuel for an ambitious—and often rewarding—look at a complex array of social and personal themes."[15] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 75 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally positive reviews."[16]
References
^ ab"Martin Eden". labiennale. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
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