Finestra di fronte, La (2003)

Director:

Ferzan Ozpetek

Writers:

Ferzan Ozpetek (writer)
Gianni Romoli (writer)

Release Date:

18 June 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Desire knows no bounds.

Plot:

Overburdened and stuck in a greying marriage, Giovanna takes to caring for the Jewish Holocaust survivor her husband brings home. As she begins to reflect on her life, she turns to the man who lives across from her ...

Plot Keywords:

Stranger | Chicken Factory | Drinking | Elderly | Pastry Chef

Awards:

19 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Giovanna Mezzogiorno	...	Giovanna
Massimo Girotti	...	Simone / Davide Veroli
Raoul Bova	...	Lorenzo
Filippo Nigro	...	Filippo
Serra Yilmaz	...	Eminè
Maria Grazia Bon	...	Sara
Massimo Poggio	...	Young Davide
Ivan Bacchi	...	Simone
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chiara Andreis
Veronica Bruni	...	2ª Tintora
Olimpia Carlisi	...	Donna negozio
Ohame-Brancy Chibuzo	...	Alessio
Carlo Daniele	...	Marco
Rosaria De Cicco	...	Barista
Luciana De Falco	...	Marilena
Barbara Folchitto
Francesca Gamba
Benedetta Gargari	...	Martina
Enrico Grassi	...	Vittorio
Serena Habtom Mehari	...	Microbo
Flavio Insinna	...	Uomo forno
Elisabeth Kaza	...	Padrona negozio
Patrizia Loreti	...	1ª Tintora
Francesco Martino
Caterina Quaranta
Maurizio Romoli	...	La spia
Giorgio Sgobbi	...	Barman
Thierno Thiam
Billo Thiernothian	...	Giambo
Claudia Verdat
Giovanni Verdesca

Directed by
Ferzan Ozpetek

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ferzan Ozpetek		writer
Gianni Romoli		writer

Produced by
Tilde Corsi	....	producer
Gianni Romoli	....	producer

Original Music by
Andrea Guerra

Cinematography by
Gianfilippo Corticelli

Film Editing by
Patrizio Marone

Casting by
Pino Pellegrino

Art Direction by
Andrea Crisanti

Set Decoration by
Massimiliano Nocente

Costume Design by
Katia Dottori		(as Catia Dottori)

Makeup Department
Marco Catalucci	....	hair stylist
Aurora Gambelli	....	key hair stylist
Anna Maria Romoli	....	makeup artist (as Annamaria Romoli)
Ermanno Spera	....	makeup artist
Maura Turchi	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Lilia Cioccarelli	....	production manager
Giordano Esposito	....	production supervisor
Maurizio Gallozzi	....	production supervisor
Giovanni Ledda	....	production supervisor
Alessandro Mattei	....	general organizator

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andrea De Sica	....	second assistant director
Gaia Filardo	....	assistant director
Gianluca Mazzella	....	assistant director

Art Department
Massimiliano Leoni	....	assistant props
Lily Pungitore	....	assistant production designer
Oreste Quercioli	....	scenic painter
Massimo Sergianni	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Paolo Amici	....	sound effects editor
Benedetto Atria	....	sound editor
Doug Cooper	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marzia Cordò	....	dialogue editor
Felicity Cottrell	....	foley artist
Robert Farr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Francesca Genevois	....	assistant sound editor
Marco Grillo	....	sound
Nigel Mills	....	sound editor: UK
Claudio Paolucci	....	boom operator
David Quadroli	....	sound effects editor
Fabrizio Quadroli	....	sound effects editor
Mike Ross-Trevor	....	sound engineer (as Mike Ross Trevor)
Ruth Sullivan	....	foley artist
Mike Wood	....	sound editor: UK
Maurizio Casula	....	sound: UK (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Fernando Sabelli	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Riccardo Beroli	....	digital effects
Sergio Cremasco	....	colourist
Alberto Mantini	....	digital effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Luigi Andrei	....	camera operator
Daniele Anzellotti	....	grip
Alessio Bastianelli	....	focus puller
Umberto Bramucci	....	electrician
Bruno Colanzi	....	key grip
Francesca D'Antoni	....	assistant camera
Simone De Marinis	....	grip
Romolo Eucalitto	....	still photographer
Leonardo Fanone	....	generator operator
Sergio Gabrielli	....	grip
Gian Claudio Giacomini	....	assistant camera
Patrizio Marra	....	grip
Vincenzo Morabito	....	electrician
Alessandro Rossi	....	electrician
Marco Sticchi	....	gaffer
Massimo Tanfani	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Costanza Bastanti	....	assistant costumer
Natasha Marinacci	....	wardrobe
Patrizia Martella	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Elide Camberini	....	color technician
Pasquale Cuzzupoli	....	color supervisor
Francesco Garrone	....	assistant editor
Andrea Prosperi	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Sezen Aksu	....	composer: song "Karsi Pencere"
Sezen Aksu	....	composer: song "Sarki Soylemek Lazim"
Carlos Eleta Almaran	....	composer: song "Historia de un amor"
Antonio Bertocchi	....	composer: song "Chihuahua" (as A. Bertocchi)
Giorgio Calabrese	....	composer: song "Chihuahua"
Chris Cozens	....	assistant music recording engineer
Ryu Kawashima	....	assistant music recording engineer
Claudio Mattone	....	composer: song "Ma che freddo fa"
Nigel Mills	....	music editor
Luca Salvadori	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Laura Curreli	....	script supervisor
Ottaviano Dell'Acqua	....	master of arms
Leandro Fabbri	....	production secretary
Vittorio Giovine	....	production secretary
Jim Hajicosta	....	post-production accountant
Germana Pierucci	....	production coordinator
Michele Protano	....	production secretary
Monica Verzolini	....	production assistant
Arzu Volkan	....	backstage director

Production Companies

• AFS Film
• Clap Filmes
• R&C Produzioni
• Redwave Films

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Cecchi Gori Home Video (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Cinemien (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Europa Filmes (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Free Dolphin Entertainment (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Mikado Film
• Mikado
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Vértigo Films (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Zootrope Films (2005) (France) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Blue Gold

Other Companies

• Goldcrest Post Production London  sound re-recorded at
• Penta Studio  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Facing Window (Australia) (International: English title)
Facing Windows (USA)
Karsi pencere (Turkey: Turkish title)
The Window Opposite (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

106 min | USA:102 min

Country:

Italy | UK | Turkey | Portugal

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Spain:13 | Chile:Y7 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-11 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:M18 | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Brazil:14 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Ponte Sisto, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

AFS Film

Trivia:

Massimo Girotti died on 6 January 2003 and the movie is dedicated to his memory. Before he was cast, Ferzan Ozpetek had considered also Jean Rochefort and Serge Reggiani for his role.

Soundtrack:

Sarky Soylemek Lazim

Fork in the road

Sadly, this type of film is all too rare.

Without the relying on clichéd plot-devices, it achieves a striking level of dramatic intensity through character and relationship development. You care what happens to them as if you knew them personally and thats why it works.

As soon as the credits began to roll, I immediately wanted to watch the film all over again. It left me with so many questions and thoughts, about my own life- a cinematic version of Coelho's Alchemist?

For me, the recurring theme in the film, is choices- life choices- forks in the road- and the consequences our decisions yield.

1. Davide stalling on the cobbled stoned streets- torn between his lover and his town. 2. Giovanna and Filippo on the bridge, arguing whether they should get involved with the strange old man. 3. Giovanna and the two men in her life. 4. Giovanna at window in Lorenzos house having a crisis of conscience. 5. Lorenzo taking up the work opportunity, instead of staying in Rome. 6. Giovanna changing careers. 7. Giovanna running down the steps at the end- mirroring the opening scene of the film, she becomes Davide's character in that she makes the ultimate sacrifice for her family. Although we are never told it directly, we realize afterwards that Davide has died- In the way that Giovanna talks about him; saying she misses him now he's gone. "Does everyone that leaves you, leave something of themselves behind". Giovanna says that she hears him in HER voice, and feels him in her gestures. The symmetry of this film is what makes it so beautiful and complete.

The message? Follow your passion, follow your heart and you will have no regrets Something that really made me think was the line Davide said to Giovanna- " You have turned your passion into a hobby. You should never do that with a talent" So finally Giovanna finds her true love- her liberation from a life she no longer loves.

Another element that adds to the realism is the dialogue- From the electrifying opening argument between the two lovers, to the smart quips of the brainy daughter, every character is given a chance to shine. Such a relief from the typical Hollywood crap we are forced to endure.

Everything about this films, seems to linger long after you leave the cinema. The visual beauty, the score, Giovanna's beautiful eyes, the scenery- a true delight of a film that I love recommending to friends.