Facing Windows

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Facing Windows
(La Finestra di fronte)
Directed by Ferzan Özpetek
Produced by Tilde Corsi
Gianni Romoli
Written by Ferzan Özpetek
Gianni Romoli
Starring Giovanna Mezzogiorno
Massimo Girotti
Raoul Bova
Filippo Nigro
Serra Yilmaz
Massimo Poggio
Music by Andrea Guerra
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Release date(s) 28 February 2003 (Italy)
June 18, 2004 (USA)
Running time 102 min
Language Italian
IMDb profile

Facing Windows (La Finestra di fronte) is a 2003 Italian movie directed by Ferzan Özpetek.

Tagline: Desire knows no bounds.

[edit] Plot

Giovanna (played by Giovanna Mezzogiorno) and her husband Filippo (Filippo Nigro) have settled into life. They both have jobs that make them unhappy. She works as an accountant. He works the graveyard shift because he is too weak to ask his boss for a daytime slot. They argue about money, sex, time and work... There is a subtle sense that this is a marriage whose love is dwindling fast. Perhaps they are only going through the motions for the sake of their kids.

One morning, the two of them are walking home and cross paths with an elderly man (Massimo Girotti). He is suffering from transient global amnesia, remembering nothing about himself and his current situation, although recalling random episodes from his remote past. And despite Giovanna's protests, Filippo brings him back to their home for the night so that he can take him to the police the next morning in the hopes of unraveling the mystery. As complications ensue, that one night stretches to a few days. The old man experiences strange episodes, flashbacks of sorts, that reveal clues to his mysterious past. His actions lead to a meeting between Giovanna and Lorenzo (Raoul Bova). Lorenzo lives across the street from Giovanna and their apartment windows face each other. The sexual tension between the two is quite palpable as they have both been secretly watching and lusting after each other from their dimly lit windows.

Giovanna and Lorenzo's instant friendship swiftly moves to flirtation and then to a passionate kiss. However, Lorenzo's job is transferring him to another city very soon and Giovanna is put in an awkward spot having to make a very quick decision. Her heart tells her she should act on her feelings. Her mind tells her to be responsible. Nevertheless, the two of them puzzle over the mystery of the old man as they try to come to terms with their feelings for one another.

[edit] Awards

[edit] External links