Film: The Double Hour [La doppia ora]
Cast includes: Kseniya Rappoport (The Unknown Woman), Filippo Timi (The American)
Director: Giuseppe Capotondi (first feature film)
Genre: Mystery/Romance/Drama/Noir/Thriller (2009) Italian with subtitles
In brief: It’s at a speed-dating event that Sonia first meets Guido. Although they each put the other as a “Yes,” Sonia is hesitant. She’s become jaded, especially after working as a chambermaid in a nearby hotel. A young woman recently jumped to her death while Sonia was cleaning the room. And then there’s the sleazy hotel manager… always on the prowl. Sonia hasn’t lived in Turin long, but she likes it here and thinks she’d like to make it her home. She thinks about all the wrong choices she’s made in the past. “Why do we make wrong choices?” She wishes she knew. She tells Marisa it’s OK to give Guido her number.
It appears that Sonia and Guido will make a nice couple… although Sonia is never quite sure how to read Guido. He’s very observant, she notices. As it turns out, he’s an ex-cop now working as a security guard for a large villa with a valuable art collection. Because Sonia has fond memories of the woods behind her childhood home, Guido invites her to walk in the woods at the villa. But the pleasant afternoon turns sour when the couple is accosted. Holding a gun to Sonia’s head, they force Guido to turn off the villa’s security system. These guys are pros. Like professional movers, they waste no time packing up and removing the valuables. Guido tries to calm Sonia by telling her, “They’re not interested in us.” But unexpectedly, one of them tries to take advantage of Sonia. A scuffle breaks out, ending in a gunshot.
When Sonia returns to work after the incident, nothing seems right. She hears things that frighten her. At several points, she sees Guido. But that’s not possible. And that cop… he seems to be insinuating that Sonia knows something she’s not telling. And the photo of Sonia and Guido… when was that taken? The doctor assures Sonia that she didn’t suffer brain damage. What other explanation could there be?
If you’re a mystery lover, this one will keep you guessing right up to the end. It’s not fast paced, but it’s deceptive… full of twists, turns and tension. Nothing is what it seems. There’s a sense of menace almost from the beginning, but it’s never overstated. The story development is excellent and the acting is nuanced perfectly. Sonia and Guido really would make a nice couple… if only…
4 popped kernels
A well-developed mystery that’s both a who-done-it and a psychological nail-biter
Popcorn Profile
Primary Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Art house
Mood: Neither upbeat or somber
Tempo: In no hurry
Visual Style: Nicely varnished realism
Character Development: Engaging
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Pure entertainment
