Saturn in Opposition [Saturno Contro] **** (2007, Pierfrancesco Favino, Margherita Buy, Luca Argentero, Stefano Accorsi, Isabella Ferrari, Serra Yılmaz, Ambra Angiolini, Milena Vukotic) – Classic Movie Review 12,800

Director Ferzan Ozpetek’s bracing, challenging 2007 Italian-Turkish drama film Saturn in Opposition [Saturno Contro] focuses sharply on a group of very close friends living in Rome who have to cope with the sudden death of one of their members.

There is much happiness and love, though also much tension, among the group of long-time friends at the start of the film. Successful novelist Davide lives with Lorenzo, everyone’s favourite, but they are apparently a beautiful, affluent gay couple. Antonio and Angelica (Margherita Buy) are married with two children, though Antonio has a secret mistress. Then there is Neval, a chatty Turkish woman, and her compliant husband Roberto. There is Sergio, an aging gay man, who was once Davide’s lover. And also the beautiful Roberta (Ambra Angiolini), heavily into drugs. Then aspiring writer Paolo’s entry into the group stirs up competition and infidelity that begin to test the relationship of Davide and Lorenzo.

So they have their secrets, an affair, a business venture. It all starts very gossipy and ingratiatingly, quite the plush soap opera. But it quite suddenly turns into a Bergman film when tragedy strikes right in the middle of a dinner party in Davide’s apartment.

[Spoiler alert] Without warning Lorenzo suffers an aneurysm and falls into a coma, from which he does not recover in hospital. The group somehow has to pull together and try to exert the power of friendship. They are sorely tested. But love is warmer than death, it’s not a Fassbinder film.

Saturn in Opposition [Saturno Contro] tells a desperately sad, rather beautiful story, stylishly handled by Ferzan Ozpetek, who is tremendously good with his actors. Main stars Stefano Accorsi as Antonio, Margherita Buy as Angelica, Serra Yilmaz as Neval, Filippo Timi as Roberto, and Pierfrancesco Favino as Davide give splendid performances, while Ambra Angiolini is outstanding in support as the beautiful Roberta heavily into drugs.

Ozpetek is not afraid to pull out all the emotional stops, and goes full on, but quietly and subtly. It’s like overdrive in a Rolls-Royce. It’s a bit of a wrist-slitter, so beware, though even so Ozpetek manages to keep alive, warm and positive. Death may be a fact of life, but the film and the director have the life force, fortunately.

Director: Ferzan Ozpetek, Writers: Ferzan Ozpetek, Gianni Romoli, Stars: Stefano Accorsi, Margherita Buy, Pierfrancesco Favino.

The cast are Stefano Accorsi as Antonio, Margherita Buy as Angelica, Serra Yilmaz as Neval, Filippo Timi as Roberto, Pierfrancesco Favino as Davide, Ennio Fantastichini as Sergio, Luca Argentero as Lorenzo, Ambra Angiolini as Roberta, Michelangelo Tommaso as Paolo, Isabella Ferrari as florist Laura, Antonio’s secret mistress, Milena Vukotic as hospital nurse Marta, and Benedetta Gargari as Giulia.

Awards: David di Donatello: Best Supporting Actress (Ambra Angiolini). Nastro d’Argento: Best Script (Ferzan Özpetek), Best Supporting Actress (Ambra Angiolini), Best Actress (Margherita Buy), and Best Song (Neffa).

It was released on 23 February 2007, and had its US premiere at Frameline in San Francisco on 20 June 2008.

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).

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,800

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