The story is based on a dramatic monologue by Italian novelist Alessandro Baricco and tells the life story of a baby who was born at sea, abandoned by his parents, found and raised by the ship's workers, and grew to manhood having never set foot on dry land. The foundling is given the name 1900, and he develops into an instinctual and virtuoso pianist. The movie itself just never gets off. Tornatore's original cut ran in the realm of three hours, and many feel that this two-hour edit is a rude bastardization. Me, I was wanting to claw out single frames from the screen with my bare hands.
Scenes go on forever without adding new information or tonal amplification.
Tim Roth, who in other films is always so taut and twitchy, here has long stretches in which he merely looks doleful and burdened. Despite these narrative disturbances, The Legend of 1900 remains a sumptuous ride with breathtaking scenes and a soaring musical score by Ennio Morricone. It's amazing to watch, but adds up to zilch. Although I have my suspicions, it's impossible to tell from this viewing whether the two-hour version is a blessing or a butchery. I Want to Get Off.