Saturno contro

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.

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 saw the premiere of this film in Florence the other night, with Ozpetek and a lot of the cast (including Accorsi and Buy) in attendance. It will soon have its release throughout Italy but I highly doubt (despite its esteemed cast) that it will make it abroad--for good reason. Having liked "Le fati ignoranti" and been less impressed with "La finestra di fronte," I came to this hopeful but with some reservations. The basic theme (though not the plot, which is too uninteresting to go into) is the same as in those other movies--that family is something one forms among friends and lovers rather than the traditional tight/strangling norms that define Italian family bonds. When Ozpetek really brought this out in "Le fati ignoranti", he seemed like a fresh voice in Italian cinema: unjudgmental, sane, equally interested in straight and gay relationships, kind with actors. Things haven't really changed in the intervening years, but his approach now seems a limitation, or rather, there's nothing to get excited about or involved with in this new film. The stakes seem low, the actors seem unplugged, the melodrama feels forced, and with no especially compelling central character (like Accorsi's in "Fati ignoranti"), there's no real involvement for the audience. Tears are shed, lessons are learned, compassion is shown. This could be a TV movie. It's only the sad state of Italian cinema in general that makes something like this pass for a serious drama. It's not really a bad film or a terrible failure, just something slightly better than mediocre. Is that good enough for one of Italy's leading directors?

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.

Once again, Ozpetek introduce us to an unorthodox gathering in the shape of a family. The gay couple Perfrancesco Favino and Luca Argentero are a model couple. Lovely, talented, kind. The heterosexual couple, Margherita Buy and Stefano Accorsi are also kind even if infidelity and other obstacles complicate their life but only momentarily. Now, okay, it all looks fine but I couldn't quite figure out what was I looking at. The story unfolds without any rhyme or reason. Did I miss something important? Favino is totally credible and Argentero is eye candy of the most delightful kind. Ennio Fantastichini is funny and pathetic, Stefano Accorsi is Stefano Accorsi and Margherita Buy manages a very civilized matrimonial crisis. Serra Yilmaz does her thing, beautifully of course, but hardly new. The only surprise was Lunetta Savino, an ex hairdresser and Argentero's step mom. Her character brings a much needed truth to the proceedings. It is, perhaps, the best written character. Somebody asked me what the film was about and I couldn't quite answer. I think that's were the problem resides. If Ferzan Ozpetek had something to say I completely missed it. However, the beauty of the people on the screen kept me awake and somehow engaged.