La Finestra di fronte (2003),directed by Ferzan Ozpetek, is an excellent film with solid performances and two interesting plots.

The basic plot--a troubled marriage and a potential love affair-- is of less importance than the "secondary" plot. This latter plot involves an old man--brilliantly performed by Massimo Girotti-- who is found wandering on the streets. He's unable to tell anyone who he is, and where he's from.

The plots intersect because the married couple rescue him from the street, and bring him home to their apartment. As the love triangle unfolds, so does the old man's story. This story is poignant, gripping, and haunting.

The direction is solid, and the actors are excellent. The only problem is that the husband, played by Filippo Nigro, looks too much like a young Bruce Willis. Raoul Bova, as the third side of the triangle, looks too much like a young Clark Kent.

Furthermore, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, as the young married

woman, is simply too beautiful to be real. However, if you can look past her appearance, you'll notice that she portrayed her character elegantly and realistically.

This is definitely a movie worth finding and worth seeing!

Facing Windows is about Giovanna,a bookkeeper in a company which packs chickens. She is married to a man who has a precarious job. First she starts being curious about a young man who lives in the block opposite hers, and then she falls in love with him.The relationship between the two becomes much stronger when she starts to find out more about him from an old man who bursts into their lives.The old man, obsessed with the memories of some things that happened n the long past autumn of 1943,has lost his memory and finds refuge in her. The movie stars Giovanna Mezzogiorno,Raoul Bova and Massimo Girotti together with Filippo Nigro,Serra Yilmaz, and Maria Grazia Bon.It was co-written and directed by Ferzan Özpetek.

In the film that touches marriage,sexuality and holocaust,young married couple Giovanna and Filippo 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 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 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 -- 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.

This Italian film is one great one that it has many characteristics that would satisfy the viewer.The characters are compelling enough to make it worth the view.Aside from that,the brilliant cast generated fine performances and the screenplay was absorbing as well as it blends romance, mystery and fantasy to in telling the narrative from beginning to end.The only thing that would probably considered the film's weakness is its tendency to be melodramatic in some scenes that it needs to be.Overall,this is one great Italian film that would gives off a lot of pleasure to the viewer.

Having seen all of Ferzan Ozpetek's films, I looked forward seeing this new picture, which just started a commercial run locally. Without a doubt, this is even more complex than the ones before. Mr. Ozpetek is a director that shows great talent. He has worked in the screen play as well.

This is a film that presents two stories that are completely different from one another. The beginning of the movie takes us back to 1943 Rome, at the height of the war. We witness what happens in the opening sequence without any knowledge of how will it play in the total outcome of the picture.

The film then changes to present day Rome. We see Giovanna and Filippo, who are struggling to make ends meet. They meet one day a mysterious old man who is trying to give them money. They end up bringing him home since the local police can't do anything. This man, Simone, has the clue to the puzzle of the first part of the film, but that will come at the end.

Giovanna's marriage to Filippo is in danger of failure. Giovanna suddenly discovers a life in the apartment across the street. Lorenzo, who lives alone, turns out has been spying on Giovanna as well. They get to meet, but common sense prevails and their possible relationship never amounts to anything.

Giovanna Mezzogiorno is one of Italy's leading actresses. Not only is she attractive, but she can act, as well. Miss Mezzogiorno has one of the most expressive and beautiful eyes we have seen in a long time. Not only that, but she expresses so much by looking directly into the camera.

Massimo Girotti, another great figure in the Italian movies is the mysterious Simone, who in reality is Davide, a master dessert chef who owned one of Rome's most prestigious pastry shop. Mr. Girotti's magnificent presence in the film makes the most with his pivotal role.

The film is deeply satisfying. Another great film by Ferzan Ozpetek.