Facing Windows [La finestra di fronte] **** (2003, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Massimo Girotti, Raoul Bova, Filippo Nigro, Serra Yilmaz) – Classic Movie Review 12,799

Ferzan Özpetek’s 2003 Italian movie Facing Windows [La finestra di fronte] is a gleaming polished gem. Giovanna Mezzogiorno and Filippo Nigro star as an unhappy married couple who befriend an elderly amnesiac man (Massimo Girotti), who changes their lives.

Director Ferzan Özpetek’s 2003 Italian movie Facing Windows [La finestra di fronte] is a gleaming polished gem, perfectly honed, with a lovely screenplay and immersive performances. Giovanna Mezzogiorno and Filippo Nigro star as an unhappy married couple who befriend an elderly amnesiac man (Massimo Girotti), who changes their lives.

Burdened with work, money worries and two kids, and stuck in a dull marriage, Giovanna (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) takes to caring for the elderly Jewish Holocaust survivor (Massimo Girotti in his final film role) her husband Filippo (Filippo Nigro) insists on bringing home. He remembers nothing about himself and his current situation but can recall random episodes from his long-ago past. All he thinks he can remember is that his name is Simone, which turns out to be the name of his wartime lover.

As Giovanna begins to reflect on her life, she turns to Lorenzo (Raoul Bova), the man who lives across from her. They have Facing Windows, and have taken to staring at each other for some while. The old man is going to bring them together, when they both meet up and try to help him. Giovanna’s canny friend Eminè ( Serra Yilmaz) encourages her to seize the day before it is too late.

The 2003 Italian movie Facing Windows [La finestra di fronte] is another beautiful, charming and haunting film from director Ferzan Ozpetek, slightly sentimental, slightly romantic, slightly other-worldly, it’s a great trademark mixture that Ozpetek has made a huge success of in his career. It is a model of extremely effective performances, sensitive screen-writing and quietly bravura film-making.

It won the David di Donatello award for Best Film, plus Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Music.

Massimo Girotti in Ossessione (1943).

Massimo Girotti died in Rome of a heart attack aged 84 after having just completed the film. In 1943 Luchino Visconti cast him in Ossessione. His career spanned seven decades.

It deservedly did well at awards time.

It won 4 David di Donatello Awards: (Best Actor: Massimo Girotti – Best Actress: Giovanna Mezzogiorno – Best Film: Gianni Romoli, Tilde Corsi and Ferzan Özpetek – Best Music: Andrea Guerra).

It won 3 Nastro d’Argento Prizes: (Best Actress: Giovanna Mezzogiorno – Best Original Story: Gianni Romoli and Ferzan Özpetek – Best Song: Giorgia for the song Gocce di memoria).

It won the Crystal Globe and the Best Director Award for Ferzan Özpetek at the 38th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

It won the Golden Space Needle Award at the Seattle International Film Festival.

Director: Ferzan Ozpetek. Writers: Ferzan Ozpetek, Gianni Romoli. Stars: Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Massimo Girotti, Raoul Bova.

The cast are Giovanna Mezzogiorno as Giovanna, Massimo Girotti as Simone / Davide Veroli, Raoul Bova as Lorenzo, Filippo Nigro as Filippo, Serra Yilmaz as Eminè, Maria Grazia Bon as Sara, Massimo Poggio as Young Davide, Ivan Bacchi as Simone, Veronica Bruni as Tintora, Olimpia Carlisi as Donna negozio stoffe, Ohame-Brancy Chibuzo as Alessio, Carlo Daniele as Marco, Rosaria De Cicco as Barista, Lucianna De Falco as Marilena, and Benedetta Gargari as Martina.

The films of Ferzan Özpetek: Hamam (1997), Harem Suare (1999), The Ignorant Fairies (2001), Facing Windows (2003), Cuore Sacro (2004), Saturn in Opposition (2007), A Perfect Day (2008), Loose Cannons (2010), Magnificent Presence (2012), Fasten Your Seatbelts (2014), Red Istanbul (2017), Naples in Veils (2017), The Goddess of Fortune (2019), Nuovo Olimpo (2023). Also the TV series The Ignorant Angels (2022).

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,799

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com