Le fate ignoranti (2001)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Ferzan Ozpetek

Writers:

Gianni Romoli (screenplay) and
Ferzan Ozpetek (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

AIDS doctor Antonia's husband is killed by a car. She gets depressed until she learns he had been cheating on her with a man...

Plot Keywords:

AIDS | Gay | Subculture | Gay Father | Loss Of Lover

Awards:

7 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Margherita Buy	...	Antonia
Stefano Accorsi	...	Michele
Serra Yilmaz	...	Serra
Gabriel Garko	...	Ernesto
Erika Blanc	...	Veronica (as Erica Blanc)
Andrea Renzi	...	Massimo
Koray Candemir	...	Emir
Lucrezia Valia	...	Mara
Filippo Nigro	...	Riccardo
Ivan Bacchi	...	Luciano
Maurizio Romoli	...	Angelo
Carmine Recano	...	Israele
Luca Calvani	...	Sandro
Rosaria De Cicco	...	Luisella
Edilberta Caviteno Bahia	...	Nora

Also Known As:

His Secret Life (UK) (USA) (festival title)
Tableau de famille (France)
The Ignorant Fairies (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexuality.

Runtime:

106 min | Argentina:110 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | UK:109 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian | Turkish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Italy:T | Argentina:13 | France:U | Spain:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Netherlands:12 | Chile:14

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

R&C Produzioni

Quotes:

Title Card: [written on the back of the painting] To Massimo, for our seven years together, for that part of you that I miss and I will never have, for every time you said I can't, but also for every time you said I'll be back... Always waiting, can I call my patience love? Your ignorant fairy

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Quasi quasi... (2002)

Soundtrack:

And Never Tell

Modest and sensitive drama.

This is my first encounter with a film by Ferzan Ozpetek and a more than satisfying one. This modest drama about a woman's growing understanding of the often hazardous and confusing life the homosexual friends of her dead husband lead is extremely convincing.

Almodóvar came to mind when seeing the commune of transsexuals and gay characters so lovingly and believably portrayed. Without the hysterics of the Spanish master Ozpetek manages to show the witty bitchiness, the hurt of and compassion for the Aids victims.

Mature is the word that springs to mind when the story unfolds and its old fashioned but unforced warmth pervades you. Without winning prizes for originality this film shows that, when made with heart, involvement and wit, one can tell an old tale over and over again.

It's also nice to find exploitation veteran Erica Blanc in a quirky but well perceived bit part.