Facing Windows

Rating:
Summary: Friends and lovers
Review: "Facing Windows" is without a doubt the most beautiful film of last year... that nobody got to see. Despite winning the Italian Best Film Award in 2003, the movie went virtually unseen in the US. But it's a haunting, lush tale that, once seen, is virtually impossible to forget.

Kindhearted and scatterbrained Filippo (Filippo Nigro) encounters a befuddled old man in the streets, and takes him home to be cared for by his young wife Giovanna (Giovanna Mezzogiorno). It's the last thing Giovanna needs -- aside from two young children, she has a rotten job and a fraying marriage that has lost its spark. She also is falling in love with the handsome young man (Raoul Bova) in the window facing hers.

But the old man, Simone (Massimo Girotti), has problems of his own, including flashbacks to a violent murder in 1943. He and Giovanna start to become friends, as he teaches her how to bake pastry like a true chef. The old man's memories start to unfold in a tragic story during the Holocaust, giving guidance to what Giovanna wishes to do with her life.

"Facing Windows" is a heavy movie -- it tackles marital problems, responsibility, Alzheimer's disease, homophobia, infidelity the Holocaust, and having your passions as the center of your life. But at its heart, it's about a woman waking up from a half-life, and reshaping things to the way they should be. Not to mention that the mountains of pastry will make viewers drool.

Ferzan Ozpetek draws viewers in as the movie becomes ever more mysterious and intriguing -- it starts off mundanely, with a flashback and a vision of a couple bickering. But the dramatic intensity begins to build, Ozpetek weaves a spiderweb of tension around the four people -- the old man, and the love triangle. His use of enigmatic flashbacks doesn't spoil the mysteries of old Simone/David's past, but rather enhances them.

Giovanna Mezzogiorno is superb as the same-named character -- she has that rare presence that fills up the screen and spills over. Her restrained performance is worshiped by the camera, which lingers all over her face. Massimo Girotti gives a subtler, but equally good performance as the old man, kindly and haunted by his tragic past.

"Don't be content to merely survive" -- nobody knows that lesson more than someone who never really got to live his life. Passionate and poignant, "Facing Windows" is a lush, beautiful look through the soul's window.

Rating:
Summary: Sadly sweet, sugared with hope
Review: "Facing Windows" realistically depicts a modern young Italian family, frustrated in lives that have much potential by are going nowhere. Giovanna (subtly portrayed by the lovely Giovanna Mezzogiorno) hates her job as an accountant in a poultry factory; her true love is baking, and she bakes pies and cakes in the evening to earn a little extra cash. Husband Filippo (Filippo Nigro) is stymied by family politics in his low-paying job and can't even make it off 3rd shift. The household's tension and unhappiness is leavened somewhat by its two young children. Whatever spark once existed between husband and wife is dampened by the rigors of parenthood and lack of job mobility. In a window across an alley, Giovanna spies on the carefree antics of Lorenzo, independent and sexy. It's seems only a matter of time before Giovanna makes fantasy a reality and escapes the confines of her unfulfilled life.

One day, the couple meets "Simone," a confused old man handing out wads of cash. Simone doesn't know who he is. Filippo kind-heartedly takes him in, supposedly just for the night. The old man has his own secrets and soon turns the couple's life upside down, bringing additional craziness and surprising sanity into the chaos of their lives.

The movie is outstanding. It has terrific writing, believable and sympathetic characters, a story with odd twists and turns and the beautiful Roman cityscape as its background. The soundtrack is terrific as well. One hauntingly beautiful song, "Gocce di Memoria," is repeated throughout the film. Take the R-rating seriously. There's language, some nudity and pretty heavy and long European-style sex scenes.

Rating:
Summary: complex and beautiful
Review: a deeply touching and moving film that will have you laughing, lusting and crying. This film deftly explores our deepest emotions, ambitions and fears. Remarkable performances and lovely scenery give flesh to the themes. The film delivers a unique plot with several layers to be enjoyed.

Rating:
Summary: The Miracle of Serendipity
Review: FACING WINDOWS is a quiet little Masterpiece of a film. Director Ferszan Ozpetek and writer Gianni Romoli have plucked a bit of everyday life in a non-descript Roman sector, found ordinary people at the usual discontent with their static lives and then introduces moments of serendipity that awaken them to the meaning of being Alive.

Two apartments on the same level of neighboring buildings share window views that suggest the lack of privacy created by contemporary living styles in the cities - this city being Rome. In one apartment lives a family of four: two children usurp to waking lives of the mother Giovanna (the radiantly gifted Giavanna Mezzogiorno) and father Filippo (Filippo Nigro, an actor of presence and depth). Both are employed in menial jobs: Filippo works the night shift unable to progress in the work place, Giovanna is an accountant in a coarse and somewhat demeaning chicken packing plant. Their stretch to survive leaves little room for the magic that was once romance. The facing window of the apartment across the way is the home of the elegant, somewhat mysteriously desirable Lorenzo (Raoul Bova, as beautiful as Italian men come!).

Serendipity #1: the couple encounter an amnesiac Simone (Massimo Girotti, in his last and finest role) in the street who Filippo befriends and ultimately brings home, much to Giovanna's chagrin. Serendipity #2: Giovanna notices the man across the way (Lorenzo) who appears to have a genteel life that Giovanna secretly covets. It is the way these two incidents intertwine and reveal the identity of Simone (who becomes known as Davide, a casualty of the concentration camps of WW II who is seen in the opening of the film in a flashback to 1943, stabbing a fellow baker who has discovered his precious love secret and leads to choices that have haunted him until his encounter with Filippo and Giovanna) that bring about the self discovery of every character in ways that will alter your views of unfounded prejudices and thwarted dreams in a way few films have.

The pacing of this mesmerizing story, the sumptuous photography, the consistently high standard of acting, and the fearless and subtle manner in which homophobia is addressed make this a landmark movie. When released in 2003 it won Italy's best picture, best actress, and best actor (Girotti) for very good reasons. This graceful film deserves a very wide audience: this film is one of the great ones! In Italian with English subtitles. Grady Harp, November 2004

Rating:
Summary: better than most hollywood fare, but...
Review: If you are a fan of indulgent European cinema- or just films that work more through tense ambiguity and insinuation, rather than propulsive dialogue and action- then you will love this. If you loved 'Chocolat,' 'The Hairdresser's Husband,' or any of the red white & blue trilogy, you will dig this movie.

Part Love-Triangle/dissatisfied & yearning woman- part Holocaust survivor story, part overcoming the everyday staleness of life/investing it with meaning. The film tries to stand on three legs and is overbearing/ awkwardly balanced. Precarious. At least to me. I still recommend it over any of the crite love-films/romantic comedies taped up and airbombed on the american public, weekly. yes it was better than Raising Helen, but not better than Raising Arizona.

I wanted to love it, and it has a great deal going for it, mainly the main character's face (more on that below) but ultimately I left the theatre last night, more than a little dissatisfied. The film tries to accomplish too much (the holocaust survivor tangent that doesn't really get anywhere- it simply serves to heighten Giovanna's sense of personal crisis- needing to act upon her dreams and not let them dwindle), and much of the action is just a bit unelievable (when Giovanna and Lorenzo finally embark upon their...). My suspension of disbelief was pulled taut- almost to breaking.

Too much insinuation, too long, the ending was too neat (I would have ended it at the conclusion of the 'running down the stairs sequence').

However, The characters are grounded authentically. The opening scene with Giovanna and Fillipo- her being a tad bitchy and him being a big-hearted bear, it set them up well. The neighbor, Ermine, was a nice touch. The dilemma that Gio faces at work was a nice tactic to expose her timidity which she begins to work through.

I will say this: Giovanna Mezzogiorno gives a superb performance, working well with what the script gives her. Also- DAMN. What a face. Her countenance more than made the film worthwhile and enjoyable, and (since this is European film) the filmgoer is treated to myriad shots of her, looking out the window, staring into space, pensively daydreaming... The camera works lingers on her eyes, lips and brow, never tiring... She has a magnificently expressive visage- the kind of face that probably won't turn heads on the street, at a glance- but lures you in, more and more. I can't say enough about her.

Nice film score, I'll be considering picking up the soundtrack once it's dropped a few bucks and isn't special order any more. The musical theme reminds one of the Kronos Quartet's strings n' beats from ',Requiem for a Dream,' though less scarred by loss and anguish, more wishful and understated. It worked well.

All in all, I probably won't see it again, but I'd recommend it to my artier friends.

Rating:
Summary: The story is unfortunately average, but the lead excels
Review: Love is a complex emotion. From youth to old age, it constantly changes colors, with shades manifesting when least expected. Perhaps this is why the cinema has maintained an immense fascination with the subjects of yearning, sexuality, passion, and comfort.

Turkish-born director Ferzan Ozpetek continues the curiosity with 'Facing Windows,' a dissection of unrequited hope in unhappy marriages. Its central character, Giovanna (Giovanna Mezzogiorno), is in the midst of discontent both at work and at home. When an aged, decrepit man turns up out of nowhere, she discovers in him a story of similar yearning between him and another man during the chaotic Holocaust. Giovanna investigates and along the way meets the man who lives in the apartment across from her own. They become infatuated and she sees her sexual and romantic yearnings now have the potential to be fulfilled.

As the story unfolds, Ozpetek often loses his way, forgetting pieces here and there, losing focus, thus confusing his audience; this is a pity, considering the intelligence of some of the writing, which is appropriately passionate. In the acting department, only Ms. Mezzogiorno stands out, inhabiting her role with utmost complexity, saving a film from its own confusion. It is ironic her performance is the only sign of clarity and refinement in the film when her character is anything but sure.

Rating:
Summary: Haunting!
Review: This is a haunting film that tries to blend the sadness of a man's later years, where no hope remains, with the sadness of a young mother's life, where there is yet hope for the future. The mother has a less than perfect marriage, has a frustrating job, and fantasizes a new life with the man with an an apartment with a window facing hers. The older man has a complex and checkered past, but has been able to provide for others. Although he can no longer find happiness or even peace in his own life, and reverts back to those times in the past where he did have love and meaning, he is still able to inspire. The movie deals with the questions of long vs. short-term goals in one's life, moral responsibilities to a spouse, ones children and ones self, different kinds of love, and more. I found it not an uplifting move, but an otherwise worthwhile one.

Rating:
Summary: movie linked music tip
Review: This is one of the most natural, beautiful, honest, touching and worthwhile films you can buy starring one of the world's finest young actresses.

If you want the theme song to this movie get GIORGIA's "LADRA DI VENTO" CD it is the last song on that CD and the album is a great example of Italian soul-pop. Amazon price for the CD is not the cheapest but it is not one of those super-insane import prices either and it is worth it. In fact you can always go to Amazon.de for a better price.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEONE VOTED TO SAY THAT THIS REVIEW IS NOT USEFUL. ALL I WAS DOING WAS GIVING A TIP ABOUT THE ARTIST WHO SINGS THE FILM'S THEME SONG.



Rating:
Summary: Haunting, surreal and very modern, but unclear plot twists.
Review: This prize-winning 2003 Italian import has a lot going for it. It's real. It's modern. And there's a haunting surreal quality to it.

There's a young couple with two children whose marriage is undergoing strains. They argue a lot and the romance seems to be gone from their marriage. There's a mysterious stranger whose window faces theirs. The wife secretly yearns for him. And then there is a old man found wandering in the streets. He's lost his memory but we soon discover he's a holocaust survivor with secrets of his own.

The plot is complex, the acting is excellent, and I applaud the filmmakers for the great realistic dialog coupled with the immediate need to resolve the mystery of who the old man is. The young wife finally meets the stranger whose windows face hers and a romance ensures. All seems to be moving quickly with deep character development and an intriguing story.

And then, about three-quarters through the film, it turns "post modern". In other words, the plot takes some implausible twists and turns, necessary scenes to develop the plot are missing, and the audience is forced to suspend their sense of reality as basic questions go unanswered. This disappointed me because I had really been getting into the story and there was no foreshadowing of this sudden turn of events. And this is what holds this film back from getting more than my modest recommendation although film buffs who enjoy exploring the unusual will probably like it.

Rating:
Summary: "Don't be content to merely survive."
Review: Young Italian couple Giovanna (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) and Filippo (Filippo Nigro) find a well-dressed elderly man wandering in the street. Giovanna wants to leave the stranger, but Filippo insists on taking him back to their flat. The plan is to take the old man to the police station. There's no missing persons report on file, so the old man stays with the young family. The old man says his name is Simone, and a concentration camp tattoo on his left forearm reveals some clues to his tragic past. Simone's presence brings long simmering resentments to a boiling point. Giovanna sees Filippo's failure to dump Simone at the police station as just another one of his long list of failures. But when Lorenzo (Raoul Bova), a handsome neighbor begins to help, Giovanna's interest in Simone's past suddenly increases.

"Facing Windows" weaves flashbacks from Simone's past into Giovanna's efforts to track down the truth. At the beginning of the film, Giovanna is too angry and punchy to stop and pay attention to any one else's problems. She's locked into an unsatisfying marriage with a husband who's a disappointment. She longs to be a pastry chef, but instead she's shelved that idea for a more practical career--she's an accountant at a chicken packing plant. Lorenzo represents not only what she's missed, but also what she could have, and it soon becomes apparent that Giovanna is facing some difficult choices.

Giovanna's window faces Lorenzo's flat, so they can stare at each other from their respective windows. But that's just a literal translation of the title, and the film is much deeper and richer than that. "Facing Windows" is about facing one's past, and also facing the future. Simone's tragic past left him with a few treasured memories, and some unique ideas about the beauty of preserving love over time. Giovanna's chance meeting with the old man forces her to reexamine her life in a new light.

"Facing Windows" is an amazing film. I tend to find Italian film too sentimental for my tastes a great deal of the time, but "Facing Windows" is the perfect balance of nostalgia, hope, regret and loss. This is a beautiful film--one of the best I've seen all year--displacedhuman