NON TI MUOVERE (DON'T MOVE)

Italy, 2004, 124 minutes, Colour.
Penelope Cruz, Sergio Castellitto, Claudia Gerini.
Directed by Sergio Castellitto.

Actor Sergio Castellitto (L'Ora della Religione, Mostly Martha) has directed a version of his wife, Margaret Mazzantini's novel. He also takes the central role.

This is a drama of passion and identity, a middle-aged surgeon faced with his daughter injured in an accident. He opts not to operate. Instead, he takes the opportunity to review his life. It is something of a shock to discover that this dignified professional has secrets that have gnawed away at his spirit. He has been able to conceal them from his loving wife. He now acknowledges the truth.

An important part of his secret is a woman from the slums, a woman abused by her father, abused by him. She is played with great sincerity and a determined lack of glamour by Penelope Cruz. It is good as well as interesting to see Penelope Cruz in a challenging dramatic role instead of the less demanding performances required of her in Hollywood. She brings both an air of mystery as well as pathos, which makes our response to the infidelity of the surgeon more ambiguous.

1. The emotional appeal of the film? To men? To women?

2. The structure of the film: the accident, the doctor being called, the cumulative development of the flashbacks, Timoteo and his life, relationships? Timoteo and his wife, his daughter? A dialogue with his daughter in coma? A confession of his life?

3. The settings: the affluent house, Italia's house and the outskirts of the town? The hospitals? The Italian countryside? The musical score?

4. The portrait of Timoteo: initial impact, his age, grey hair, the information about his daughter's accident, his being upset, his decisions about the operation, his not going in? The atmosphere of rain often during the film? His looking out the window, remembering? Seeing the woman sitting on the chair, Italia's ghost? The finale with her shoe? The magic realism of her presence - and the possibility of her working a miracle for Timoteo?

5. The flashbacks and his story: the breakdown, the heat, drinking the vodka, looking for the mechanic, the girl in the bar, her letting him come to use the telephone, the brutality of the rape? His going home, the easy life with his wife, going for the swim, writing on the sand that he had raped a woman? His continually returning to Italia, the passionate relationship, developing into an affair, developing into love and dependence? The effect on him? At work, his asking Manlio about going to prostitutes? With Alfredo and his separation? Going to conferences? His ordinary life, proposing to his wife that she become pregnant? Her success, the card? The moment when he was going to tell her that he would leave her? Continually going back to Italia, their relationship, talking? The changes in Italia? Her pregnancy, his taking her to hospital, her having the abortion? His reaction? His taking her to the conference? His getting off the plane pretending he had a heart attack? His not telling Italia about his wife's pregnancy? The pregnancy, the birth of the child? His going to Italia, taking her to her village? The meal, her being unwell, the operation, her death? His grief? The offhand manner of the undertakers? His return to his wife, the birth of his daughter? Her growing up, the flashback to the mother criticising her for being out late? His scene with the judo, forcing her to practise, agreeing that she did not have to? The good news about her reviving after his going to pump her heart, his not believing in God, the twice that he prayed? His future?

6. Italia, her background, the story of her father's treatment of her, the sexual brutality, the dress? Her life, working at cleaning hotel rooms? Inheriting the house, having to move? Letting Timoteo use the phone, the sexual encounter? His return, her response, sexually, emotionally? Her loving him, making him meals, receiving him into the house? The pregnancy, the hospital treatment, her decision to have an abortion? His horrified reaction? Her having to move, seeing him in the street with his pregnant wife, the sexual encounter in the rain, her telling him that she knew his wife was pregnant? Leaving, her love for her dog, Timoteo helping the dog, leaving it behind? The car ride, going home, her illness and death? Her ghost sitting in the rain, helping Timoteo with his daughter?

7. Elsa, glamour, her work, relationship with Timoteo, her loving him, their way of life? Travel, work? Becoming pregnant? The social life, parties and friends? Timoteo feeling on the outside? The pregnancy, giving birth? Her criticising her daughter's going out, her words to her in coma about the strap and the helmet? A future with Timoteo?

8. Angela, the accident, the flashbacks, fifteen, wanting to go out, not wearing the helmet strap, not wanting to do the judo, love for her parents? Her boyfriend arriving - his hair and Timoteo's reaction?

9. The staff, Ada and her support, Manlio and the sex talk, getting off the plane, his expertise in surgery? Alfredo, lack of personality, aggressive, expert in the operation theatre?

10. The background, the friends of Timoteo and Elsa and their wealthy life, the people in the bar and Italia's friends?

11. The emotional impact of the film, illness and death, accidents and surgery - and a man examining his conscience? Finding some faith?