The Unknown Woman (2006)

Haunted by a horrible past, a Ukrainian young woman calculatedly insinuates herself into the life of a rich Italian family.

Director:

Giuseppe Tornatore

Writers:

Giuseppe Tornatore (story), Giuseppe Tornatore (screenplay)

Stars:

Kseniya Rappoport, Michele Placido, Claudia Gerini

20 wins & 26 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kseniya Rappoport	...	Irena (as Ksenia Rappoport)
Michele Placido	...	Muffa
Claudia Gerini	...	Valeria Adacher
Piera Degli Esposti	...	Gina
Alessandro Haber	...	Matteo
Clara Dossena	...	Tea Adacher
Ángela Molina	...	Lucrezia (as Angela Molina)
Margherita Buy	...	Avvocato Irena
Pierfrancesco Favino	...	Donato Adacher
Nicola Di Pinto	...	Magistrato
Paolo Elmo	...	Nello
Simona Nobili	...	Poliziotta
Elisa Morucci	...	Cameriera
Giulia Di Quilio	...	Segretaria
Pino Calabrese	...	Magistrato

Storyline

A Ukrainian woman named Irena calculatedly insinuates herself into the lives of a young, affluent Italian family. Stopping at nothing to become the couple's trusted maid and the beloved nanny to their fragile young daughter, Irena risks everything in her quest to uncover the truth about the family. Like an intricately constructed jigsaw puzzle, The Unknown Woman reveals piece by piece the enigma of Irena's past.

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Plot Keywords:

dark past | maid | female in a shower | full frontal nudity | female full frontal nudity | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some disturbing violent content involving rape and torture, graphic nudity, sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [United States]

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian Ukrainian

Release Date:

20 October 2006 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Unknown Woman

Filming Locations:

Papigno, Terni, Umbria, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

€8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,569, 6 April 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$18,569, 6 April 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Medusa Film, Manigolda Film, Sky

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film received a small release in Los Angeles in late 2007 in order to qualify for the 80th Annual Academy Awards (it was eligible in all categories, including Best Foreign Language Film). However it didn't get a wide US release until the following year.

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Connections

References Oliver Twist (2005)

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Soundtracks

Donna non vidi mai
from "Manon Lescaut"
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica, Marco Praga and Domenico Oliva
Courtesy of Ricordi Music Publishing

User Reviews

Tornatore did it again

After a long time, a new Tornatore film. After the second viewing I decided to write a comment about it.

When people talk about a film by Giuseppe Tornatore, they think of Sicily first with it's burning sun and it's orange villages. This is one of his darker films, if not his darkest (on par with Il Camorrista).

As sound as the first fade in of this film appeared, I was hooked. I will not spoil anything, but you'll see some pretty powerful stuff. The story is complicated and important, so giving examples might spoil something, so I focus on the experience of this film itself.

I have never seen most of the actors in this (except Placido), but they all did an amazing job. Kseniya Rappoport is so great in this film that it's just haunting. Her performance is a winner without doubt, but the supportive cast never seems shy to make their emotions as real as they can.

The shots that this film uses are great. All Tornatore films are beautiful, but this one is a real dark gem. As him and few other can do, he makes the world real.

The script is strong. I cannot just define it as a drama, because that is a vague term. It's also a disturbing film with a warm touch (a heartbreaking plot that twists in a good way).

Ennio Morricone wrote the score. I am a great fan of him and I must say that even now, being 77, he is still the top composer in the entire industry. With his score for La Sconosciuta he surprised me. Again. This man is so amazing that I curse the Academy awards every day for ignoring him for more than 40 years.

So is there nothing bad about La Sconosciuta? Yes there is; the DVD is only available in Italy. I bought one with English subtitles so I have little problem watching it, but this can be quite a damper on it's international fame. I hope this one gets a great international release, both in cinema and on DVD. Great pieces of art should not be kept indoors.

I give it 10 out of 10. The best of 2006 and perfect in every way.