Facing Windows (2003)
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64% of critics liked it
(66 reviews) -
85% of users liked it
(5,497 ratings)
Young married couple Giovanna (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) and Filippo (Filippo Nigro) have been married long enough to have become almost completely jaded by their lots in life, with most of their individual aspirations having been set aside some time ago. As their marriage begins to fall apart, the two… More Young married couple Giovanna (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) and Filippo (Filippo Nigro) have been married long enough to have become almost completely jaded by their lots in life, with most of their individual aspirations having been set aside some time ago. As their marriage begins to fall apart, the two encounter a strange old man (Massimo Girotti) who calls himself Simone since he can't seem to recall his real name or much about his past history. Filippo brings the man home to stay with them, which initially irritates Giovanna. Over time, she gradually befriends the confused old man and eventually notices a tattoo on his arm indicative of his being a WWII Holocaust survivor. Taking "Simone" to an old Roman ghetto, she helps him remember his name (Davide) and his time spent in that very ghetto -- which includes recalling the very painful memory of his lover Simone's capture and murder at the hands of the Nazis. Meanwhile, Giovanna has been spending her free time impulsively peeping across the street at her attractive neighbor Lorenzo (Raoul Bova) -- who in turn has been spying on her. Giovanna is thus forced to decide between Filippo and Lorenzo, as well as possibly realizing a long dormant professional dream that her new friend Davide may be able to help her undertake. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- Directed By
- Ferzan Ozpetek
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- Apr 10, 2004 Wide
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Classics
Critic Reviews
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Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
The characters are compelling enough to make it worth plowing through the subtitles.
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Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic
There are two stories in Facing Windows, one of them profound and deeply moving, the other pure soap opera.
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Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Ozpetek ends up with a lot of balls in the air, and he has to do some scrambling to keep up. He pulls it off, but it feels like he's making this harder than it needs to be.
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Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
As the relationship progresses between Giovanna and Davide, Facing Windows becomes refined with deeper truths.
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Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Thanks to fine performances and a grounded script, the pieces of this intriguing little puzzle all manage to fit.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Cast
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Giovanna Mezzogiorno
as Giovanna
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Massimo Girotti
as Davide
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Raoul Bova
as Lorenzo
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Filippo Nigro
as Filippo
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Serra Yilmaz
as Emine
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Massimo Poggio
as Younger Davide
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Ivan Bacchi
as Simone
- Maria Grazia Bon
- Rosaria DeCicco
- Flavio Insinna
- Elizabeth Kaza
- Olimpia Carlisi
