Saturno contro - In Ewigkeit Liebe

I was really excited to see this film because I loved Hamam and I wasn't disappointed at all. Saturn in Opposition is really about a way of life that I feel lucky enough to have. It tells the story of a group of people who exist and stick together when faced with loss, difficulty and beside differences. I've always liked to think of friendship as a type of love. And I hope Mr Ozpetek would agree with me. The visual style is somewhat impulsive, but that makes the film more alive, personal. I'd recommend Saturn in Opposition to anyone who likes films about real life, friendship, emotionality, vulnerability. It carries a distinct European sensibility that I respect very much.

This really beautifully cast ensemble piece (the best group I have seen since THE METHOD)is wonderfully directed by Turkish director Frazan Ozpetik, whose films I intend to find and watch....not just at premieres. The one actress who is quite remarkable as one of the most interesting and amusing and attractive cast members Ambia Angiolini. The cast, very attractive and some for plot reasons. What is so surprising to me is why Hollywood hasn't grabbed actor Luca, who is a heart throb and grabbed him like they did a lot of Almodovar's leading men. One of the reasons some of the reviewers complain about the film is mostly because it is a bit grand and for sophisticated tastes including the homosexuality driven plot which is not for most online reviewers even though the film took a handful of Italian Oscars. For those who claim it may be soap operaish, they forget that prior to reality shows, the world, not just Americans, thrived on soaps in most every country for decades; and still do in some. This film is made fascinating by the mixture of both gay and straight characters with little homophobic focus. If SATURN IN OPPOSITION isn't grabbed and remade either by the Weinsteins or some tasteful British group, I will be surprised. What I also have to mention is the stunning photography, lighting, art direction and most of all, the music. I am going to see about finding if there is a soundtrack which is really inventive and organic.

Ferzan Ozpeteck returns to familiar territory but without the nerve, and self assuredness that he shown in the much better "Le Fatte Ignoranti" This time we're introduced to an unusual little group of friends doing all the usual things. Loving and and deceiving, being honest and compassionate, blatant, timid, courageous, self effacing. At times I thought "Saturno Contro" was going to deal with the tough theme that a gay lover is not a relative with all its thorny connotations but not such luck. Our characters are much more sophisticated and, apparently, the society they all live in, as well. There is no real conflict, really. Death is the thing and death is always powerful, specially when it touches the unsuspecting. Pierfrancesco Favino is wonderful. Human to the hilt. Even when he's given a far too long close up with tears that seem to, awkwardly, fight their way out. Luca Argentero, his lover, is definitely beautiful and gets, like Gabriele Garko in "Le Fatte Ignoranti" the most loving, lingering close ups. Again, I couldn't quite connect with Stefano Accorsi as a character or as an actor. Marherita Buy is a delight, as usual and Serra Yilmaz has become already Ozpeteck's good luck charm and she's always fun to watch. All in all, I was moved and annoyed at the same time.

I am puzzled by the tepid response to this film. My friends and I were fully engaged throughout, and completely satisfied at film's end. For me, art in any medium needs to be either 1) a transforming story or 2) so beautifully done that people are reminded anew of how amazing life is. This was a movie in the second category, a soufflé that needed a lot of elements to come together perfectly in order not to fail. And my friends and I found it perfect. The movie also needed to be well controlled to make up for the fact that everyone was so beautiful.

It was one of those "This happened, then this, then this" - and I bought it all. I had no idea where it was going but I didn't care because it was going to be satisfying.

On top of that, this was a movie I didn't have to translate at all. And on top of *that*, the characters possessed a grace of spirit that matched their considerable physical beauty. One scene, where the wife met the mistress, was a marvel. The director either picked people who had extraordinary brains and sensitivity, or else he's really good at getting a lot out of his actors.

My friends had many telling details we needed to lovingly examine. Perhaps the reviewers who found it disappointing are young, or Europeans who have seen a lot of movies like this one (I haven't); maybe they've seen these same actors a lot, or know too much about them from gossip magazines. Maybe they've not lost a charismatic friend or undergone experiences together with a close set of friends. There were moments in my life that I haven't seen represented on film before and here they were. I liked having those moments represented honestly but also idealized - and yes, you can do both things at the same time.

At least reviewer wondered what this movie was about. For me, this movie was many things: an astonishing display of ensemble acting; a set of character studies where each character seemed to have years of history shading every moment; a romanticized story about a kind of family not sufficiently represented on film; a story about people experiencing complex emotional states and not making a big deal about it.

And there were so many beautiful camera moments!

All in all, Mozart is a good reference point for this movie. So perfect that it breaks rules and still makes a good film.

few friends. different- commune stories. and the death. a film who seduce for the wise manner to present the fragility. for the perspective about friendship and love. and the broke of a circle. the sophisticated air, the status of pieces of a construction who becomes each a individuality , the looks, the touches, the tears, the shadows who covers, step by step, a kind of Paradise does Saturn in Oppposition special. not remarkable. only example of high craft of a real good director who explores, in smart manner, contemporary world from different sides, with profound delicacy. a film about need to escape from yourself, certitudes, the importance of refuge and the other. touching, bitter, seductive. almost strange.