Le Fate Ignoranti

Genre: Drama
Director: Ferzan Ozpetek
Writers: Ferzan Ozpetek, Gianni Romoli

Summary:
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. Following her newly born curiosity for life, she goes to see her husband's lover, Michele, and finds a huge apartment that he shares with gay and transgendered friends, including a Turkish immigrant and a prostitute. Antonia is reluctant to tell these people of her relationship to the dead man, but needs prompting to move on to a new phase of her life.

by Sujit R. Varma

I had to wait for Jayce to watch this movie before I started raving about it. Finally, Port, Jayce and I had a lenghthy discussion on how fabulous the movie was....

Here's how it went....

1. The movie presented the gay/lesbian community as a diverse people with a sub-culture that everyone can relate to and/or be a part of.

Antonia who was, all her life, sheltered by a conventional community now finds herself enjoying the company and lifestyle of her husband's lover. She realized that her husband not only fell in love with Michele, but he fell in love with the people in his apartment building (having lunch with them every Sunday).

N.B. Massimo is straight and yes, he fell in love with Michele. (clap-clap-clap)

2. The basic premise of the story was so Bohemian that it revolved on the art of living.

Antonia was reborn into a lifestyle of independence, freedom, and seeing the beauty around and in everyone. She now sees herself through her own eyes, not through anybody else's. She no longer lives in Massimo's shadow.

This strongly tells every woman who was brainwashed by fairytale romances and fairytale endings to get a life! It's about time you outgrew Snow White/Cinderella and/or Hollywood endings... there is no such thing as a knight in shining armour to save you from your misery. Happiness in love and in life in general is a choice... no knight or king or fairy godmother can give that to you... you owe it to yourself!... Freewill... there is always a Choice!

3. It presented love that transends sexual preference, status and social norms.

I know Port hates this part of the movie but I'll mention it anyway.
Michele and Antonia find themselves falling in love with each other. It could be because of what Massimo saw in both of them that draws them together.

The beauty of this concept is that love can come in any form, be it romantic or platonic. Love is love... no matter what status in life, sexual preference or what the society dictates, love will still be everywhere... lingering for its next victim.

4. It subtly infused the gay/lesbian social struggle, considering that this was primarily shown in Rome.

The movie presented the gay/lesbian culture so mundanely, something common to every culture. Up until the end, as the credits were running, shots from the Gay Pride parade were highlighted. Complete with their effigies, placards/posters, and the well represented gay/lesbian community.

5. The movie was just simply fabulous!

FYI. Just in case you wanted to know... Port is a non-practicing sociologist... Jayce is a movie/literary buff and guru... Midz is a pseudo-lesbian/gay blogger... we're all open for dates for the upcoming Italian and French filmfest at the CCP... =p