The Keys to the House

The Keys to the House
(Le chiavi di casa)
Directed by Gianni Amelio
Produced by Elda Ferri
Enzo Porcelli
Written by Giuseppe Pontiggia (novel)
Gianni Amelio
Sandro Petraglia
Stefano Rulli
Starring Kim Rossi Stuart
Charlotte Rampling
Andrea Rossi
Alla Faerovich
Pierfrancesco Favino
Music by Franco Piersanti
Edited by Simona Paggi
Distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment
Release dates
  • 10 September 2004 (Italy)
Running time
105 minutes
Country Italy
Language Italian

The Keys to the House (Italian title: Le chiavi di casa) is a 2004 dramatic family film based on the story Born Twice (Italian title: Nati due volte) telling the story of a young father meeting his handicapped son for the first time and attempts to forge a relationship with the teenager. The film was directed by Gianni Amelio.

Plot

Gianni (Kim Rossi Stuart) has left his son Paolo (Andrea Rossi) in the care of others since the day he was born. He has not been able to cope with the fact that Paolo’s mother died in childbirth and Paolo has not grown up like all the other children because of his handicap. Paolo is now fifteen years old and is about to meet his father for the first time. Gianni has been asked by the caretakers of his son to take him to a Berlin hospital for yearly tests and check-ups. According to their doctor, the "shock" of meeting his own father could help Paolo in his treatment.

When Gianni boards the night train which Paolo is already riding, it is Gianni who is in for a shock. Paolo does not seem particularly impressed nor disturbed by this first meeting with his biological father. He seems more interested in his Game Boy instead. Gianni and Nicole (Charlotte Rampling) meet accidentally in the Berlin hospital, and even though he feels awkward and almost ashamed at being seen as having fathered "such a child", they somehow connect. Nicole has spent her life caring for her daughter and could teach Gianni something if only he were willing to listen. Through a series of chance encounters aided by a book left behind by Nicole (Born Twice Italian title: Nati due volte, incidentally the book on which the film is based), they meet several times and get talking.

Awards

The film has won nine awards and fourteen nominations.

2004

In the same year of its release (2004) it won four awards and one nomination in the Venice Film Festival:

Award Category/Recipient
'CinemAvvenire' Award Best Film

Gianni Amelio

Pasinetti Award Best Actor

Kim Rossi Stuart

Pasinetti Award Best Film

Gianni Amelio

Sergio Trasatti Award Gianni Amelio
Nomination Category/Recipient
Golden Lion Gianni Amelio

2005

In the second year (2005) it won:

One award and six nominations in the David di Donatello Awards:

Award Category/Recipient(s)
David Best Sound (Migliore Fonico di Presa Diretta)

Alessandro Zanon

Nomination Category/Recipient(s)
David Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista)

Kim Rossi Stuart

David Best Director (Migliore Regista)

Gianni Amelio

David Best Editing (Migliore Montatore)

Simona Paggi

David Best Film (Miglior Film)

Enzo Porcelli

Gianni Amelio (director)

David Best Music (Migliore Musicista)

Franco Piersanti

David Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura)

Gianni Amelio

Sandro Petraglia

Stefano Rulli

Three awards and five nominations in the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists:

Award Category/Recipient(s)
Silver Ribbon Best Cinematography (Migliore Fotografia)

Luca Bigazzi

Silver Ribbon Best Director (Regista del Miglior Film Italiano)

Gianni Amelio

Silver Ribbon Best Sound (Migliore Presa Diretta)

Alessandro Zanon

Nomination Category/Recipient(s)
Silver Ribbon Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista)

Kim Rossi Stuart

Silver Ribbon Best Editing (Miglior Montaggio)

Simona Paggi

Silver Ribbon Best Producer (Migliore Produttore)

Enzo Porcelli

Silver Ribbon Best Screenplay (Miglior Sceneggiatura)

Gianni Amelio

Sandro Petraglia

Stefano Rulli

Silver Ribbon Best Supporting Actor (Migliore Attore non Protagonista)

Pierfrancesco Favino

and two nominations in the Young Artist Awards:

Nomination Category/Recipient(s)
Young Artist Awards Best International Feature Film
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in an International Feature Film - Leading Young Performance

Andrea Rossi

2006

In the third year (2006) it won:

One award in the Turia Awards:

Award Category/Recipients(s)
Turia Awards Best Foreign Film

Gianni Amelio

External links