I saw this in April at a screening of the Desert Film Society in Palm Springs. From Italian director/writer Giusppe Toranatore, best known for Cinema Paradiso, this is the story of Irena (Kseniya Rappoprt), a Ukrainian immigrant who has become a prostitute in a European sex slave operation in southern Italy. The sadistic Mold (Michele Placido), besides pimping his sex slaves also uses them as baby machines in an underground adoption ring to unwitting upper middle class and wealthy childless couples. After stealing a large sum of cash from Mold, Irena escapes to the northwest of Italy with a plan to become the nanny of a couple, Donato and Valeria Adacher (Claudia Gerini and Pierfrancesco Favino) to be near their child, Tea (Clara Dossena) who she believes to be one of those that she gave birth to. To infiltrate the family she must first find someway to get the job from their current nanny Gina (Piera Degli Esposti). Released in 2006 this was Italy's official submission to the Academy Awards committee for Best Foreign Language Film of 2007. With a reworked story this could have been a suspense thriller reminiscent of Hitchcock but Toranatore takes it over the top as he attempts to add violence, gore and an uncomfortable tension reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino but without the humor. The implausible plot and improbable storyline of this film that never really decides what direction its going in is held together by a strong cast led by Russian actress Rappoport. Through a series of flashbacks you get weary of trying to piece this story together with no satisfying payoff. One can soon come to dislike the title character of Irena as the Unknown Woman despite the horrible ordeals she has faced in this very uncomfortable and pretentious film. Nice cinematography from Fabo Zamarion and excellent music from the legendary film composer Ennio Morricone but I would give this a 6.0 out of 10 and not recommend it but hope instead that Tornatore redeems himself with the Lenningrad project that was to be a Sergio Leon film that he's working on. At least we know it will look good and have good music.
Review of The Unknown Woman
