Tetro, Italian for ‘gloomy’ is the name promising writer turned semi-recluse Angelo Tetrocini, insists on being called.  The son of astoundingly talented, classical composer Carlos Tetrocini, Tetro (Vincent Gallo) has left his family and his name behind in America, moved to Argentina and shacked up with the, sympathetic Miranda played by the beautiful Maribel Verdú.

His quiet existence spent mostly feeling sorry for himself and indulging his own temperament is rudely interrupted by the arrival of his much younger half-brother Bennie. Fresh faced and playing the contrastingly idealistic Bennie, Alden Ehrenreich is the lucky son of a gun who not only looks a hell of a lot like a dark-haired Leonardo DiCaprio but has his feature debut  in a Francis Ford Copolla film.

Having left behind his blockbuster days, Copolla has put much love into the cinematic scope of this truly impressive drama without the restraints of studio interference.  Taking a look at family dynamics through a lens of poetic realism, he gives the estranged half-brothers a mutual hatred of their father, tragic relationships with their respective mothers and opposing views on almost everything.

Family relationships, loyalties and dramas at the heart of a Francis Ford Copolla film come as no surprise. Neither do the black and white frames. Though not a regular occurrence in his films, shooting ninety percent of Tetro in monochrome with a mostly still camera, has made every shot beautifully penetrating. The dark, poetic cinematography is entrancing but the story doesn’t live up to the compelling camera work. Though the family drama is heightened events unfold predictably .

The mystery of Tetro’s animosity towards his brother becomes apparent about half way through the film but you still have the last half to sit through before all is revealed to the characters. In the waiting period there’s a little angst, a little sex and a few people get roughed up which is fun but in no way savvy. In terms of film making, its utterly absorbing. The characters are well thought out and well acted but their story isn’t as interesting as they are. Still well worth seeing for the cinematography alone.

Tetro is in cinemas now.