Cast: Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Massimo Girotti, Raoul Bova, Filippo Nigro, Serra Yilmaz, Maria Grazia Bon
Director: Ferzan Ozpetek
Producers: Tilde Corsi, Gianni Romoli
Screenplay: Ferzan Ozpetek, Gianni Romoli
Cinematography: Gianfilippo Corticelli
Music: Andrea Guerra
U.S. Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
In Italian with subtitles
The English-language title of Turkish-born director Ferzan Ozpetek's fourth feature is Facing Windows, and, like nearly every other movie with the word "window" in the title, it deals with voyeurism and obsession. Fascinating subjects, to be sure, but the film fails to delve beneath the surface of either, preferring instead to use them as plot devices to fuel a lackluster love story. This is one of those movies that will probably generate more praise than it deserves simply because it's European. There is a cadre of critics out there who will turn their thumbs up to a film if it has subtitles. In reality, however, the content of Facing Windows makes it a questionable recommendation, at best.
The story revolves around the rocky marriage of Filippo (Fillippo Nigro) and Giovanna (Giovanna Mezzogiorno), who, despite working different shifts, can't seem to get along. They argue all the time about money, responsibility, and sex, and one gets the feeling that the only reason they're together is because of the kids. One day, they encounter a lost old man (Massimo Girotti) wandering the streets. He is afflicted with amnesia and can't remember his name. Giovanna wants to ignore him, but kind-hearted Filippo decides to bring him home until he regains his memory or the police discover his identity. Meanwhile, Giovanna has been watching a good-looking neighbor through her kitchen window, and, after meeting him, she discovers that there is a mutual attraction. Eventually, she learns that she wasn't the only voyeur; he has been observing her for months.
The window-watching and the love story that springs from it are secondary concerns. The primary thrust of the movie is about how the presence of the old man changes things for both Filippo and Giovanna. Through him, she learns not to settle for life, but to go after her dreams. It's a trite and familiar message that's delivered in a rather heavy-handed fashion. So she quits her job and decides to pursue her desire to become a pastry chef. As stories of longing and roads not taken go, this one is unfortunately shallow.
Lead actress Giovanna Mezzogiorno is a stunningly beautiful woman and a decent actress, but she develops no chemistry whatsoever with either of her same-age co-stars. In fact, she connects better with Girotti's old man. It's almost impossible to believe there's anything beyond curiosity in her relationship with her neighbor, and moments of affection between Giovanna and Filippo are brief and occasional. I have heard this movie described as a love story, but I found little in the way of convincing romance. Facing Windows is probably best skipped - unless you have a penchant for shallow, "comfortable" foreign films that offer obvious messages and never attempt to challenge the viewer.
© 2004 James Berardinelli