09/22/06 Facing Windows

Facing Windows (2003), directed by Ferzan Ozpetek

watched solo; DVD rental (North American Video) @ home

Falling on the first day of fall this year, and celebrating the Autumnal/Vernal Equinox (look it up kiddies, it's educational!), this lovely title was the selected in poll for my movie choice of the seasonal festivities. Actually, this and the title "Equinox Knocks" (which I found to be completely strange in reading about it, but nonetheless more apropos of a title) were landing in a dead-heat for winning the autumnal poll. However, not knowing up until the last minute which of the two titles would come out victorious (and I having the deciding vote), the only title I could scrounge up was this foreign fare "Facing Windows." Now having seen the film itself, and furthermore knowing of the other title I could have chosen in its place, I can't figure out what the hell this film has to do with Fall at all! Other than perhaps a portion of the film takes place in that colorful season...it has no significant bearing on the subject matter or plot...whereas many of the others on the list did. I'm confused, but regardless, intrigued by this penetrating drama. Stuck in a greying and dull marriage, Giovanna finds solace in gazing out of her apartment window into a stranger's window facing across the way. Growing distant from her husband Filippo, and their struggling financially to pay the bills & raise their children, Giovanna begins to fantasize about this other man Lorenzo. To further complicate the reasons to fight at home, humanitarian Filippo has come across an elderly man whose temporary amnesia has him at the mercy of the kind couple to bring him to their home to care for him. With Filippo always so busy and tormented, Giovanna takes to the help of Lorenzo to help the elderly man find his way back home. The elderly man is haunted by his own past transgressions and past nightmares of a by-gone Nazi era, and when his memory comes to...he shares his anguish with Giovanna to keep her from repeating mistakes he has made. The secret affair between Giovanna and Lorenzo comes to a boiling point, where she must decide once and for all whom she truly loves and is willing to hurt. The theme of beginning to love one's self before they can fully love another runs throughout, and despite their differences, you can't help but be angry with Giovanna's choices and feel sorry for Filippo's blind acceptance. This Italian film tugs at the delicate fabric of human emotions, caustic decisions and the damning consequences that come with them. It's definitely a downer, not an upper...which is what you should feel going into such a beautifully colorful and layered season as autumn. I guess it's symbolic in a sense to see certain life dying off, only to have others reborn...blah blah blah. Yes, a solid movie. Yes, a beautiful (and my favorite) season of the year). However...no, not at all related.

3 out of 5 stars