His Secret Life (2001)

After a deathly car accident, Antonia starts dating her husband's friends and finds the truth about his life.

Director:

Ferzan Ozpetek

Writers:

Gianni Romoli (screenplay), Ferzan Ozpetek (screenplay)

Stars:

Margherita Buy, Stefano Accorsi, Serra Yilmaz

15 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Margherita Buy	...	Antonia
Stefano Accorsi	...	Michele
Serra Yilmaz	...	Serra
Gabriel Garko	...	Ernesto
Erika Blanc	...	Veronica (as Erica Blanc)
Andrea Renzi	...	Massimo
Koray Candemir	...	Emir
Lucrezia Valia	...	Mara
Filippo Nigro	...	Riccardo
Ivan Bacchi	...	Luciano
Maurizio Romoli	...	Angelo
Carmine Recano	...	Israele
Luca Calvani	...	Sandro
Rosaria De Cicco	...	Luisella
Edilberta Caviteno Bahia	...	Nora

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

aids | caught in the rain | purchase | inscription | watching television | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexuality

Did You Know?

Quotes

Title Card: [written on the back of the painting] To Massimo, for our seven years together, for that part of you that I miss and I will never have, for every time you said I can't, but also for every time you said I'll be back... Always waiting, can I call my patience love? Your ignorant fairy

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Connections

Featured in Voi siete qui (2011)

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Soundtracks

Risveglio
Composed by Andrea Guerra
© 2001 EMI Music Publishing Italia S.r.l.
Licensed To Virgin Music Italy S.r.l.

User Reviews

Modest and sensitive drama.

This is my first encounter with a film by Ferzan Ozpetek and a more than satisfying one. This modest drama about a woman's growing understanding of the often hazardous and confusing life the homosexual friends of her dead husband lead is extremely convincing.

Almodóvar came to mind when seeing the commune of transsexuals and gay characters so lovingly and believably portrayed. Without the hysterics of the Spanish master Ozpetek manages to show the witty bitchiness, the hurt of and compassion for the Aids victims.

Mature is the word that springs to mind when the story unfolds and its old fashioned but unforced warmth pervades you. Without winning prizes for originality this film shows that, when made with heart, involvement and wit, one can tell an old tale over and over again.

It's also nice to find exploitation veteran Erica Blanc in a quirky but well perceived bit part.

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian Turkish

Release Date:

20 September 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

His Secret Life

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,316, 22 September 2002

Gross USA:

$215,449

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$500,930

Company Credits

Production Co:

R&C Produzioni, Films Balenciaga, Les, MEDIA Programme of the European Union

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1