The Double Hour (2009)

A chambermaid and an ex-cop meet at a speed dating event and a romance develops. But during a romantic getaway things suddenly take a dark turn.

Director:

Giuseppe Capotondi

Writers:

Alessandro Fabbri, Ludovica Rampoldi

Stars:

Kseniya Rappoport, Filippo Timi, Antonia Truppo

8 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kseniya Rappoport	...	Sonia (as Ksenia Rappoport)
Filippo Timi	...	Guido
Antonia Truppo	...	Margherita
Gaetano Bruno	...	Riccardo
Fausto Russo Alesi	...	Bruno
Michele Di Mauro	...	Dante
Lorenzo Gioielli	...	Hotel deputy director
Lidia Vitale	...	Redhead at speed date
Giampiero Judica	...	Man at speed date
Roberto Accornero	...	Man at speed date
Lucia Poli	...	Marisa
Giorgio Colangeli	...	Priest / Father
Deborah Bernuzzi	...	Hostess
Barbara Braconi	...	Receptionist
Federica Cassini	...	Infermiera

Storyline

Guido (Filippo Timi), a former cop, is a luckless veteran of the speed-dating scene in Turin. But, much to his surprise, he meets Slovenian immigrant Sonia (Ksenia Rappoport), a chambermaid at a high-end hotel. The two hit it off, and a passionate romance develops. After they leave the city for a romantic getaway in the country, things suddenly take a dark turn. As Sonia's murky past resurfaces, her reality starts to crumble. Everything in her life begins to change - - questions arise and answers only arrive through a continuous twist and turn of events keeping viewers on edge until the film's final moments. THE DOUBLE HOUR, winner of Best Actress at the 2009 Venice International Film Festival, is directed by Giuseppe Capotondi.

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Plot Keywords:

female full frontal nudity | chambermaid | speed dating | slovenian | ex cop | 

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Taglines:

Nothing is what it seems.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Connections

Remade as The Double Hour

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Soundtracks

09-15-00 (Part One)
Written and Performed by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Courtesy of Rough Trade Publishing

User Reviews

First-rate suspense

This taut, splendidly acted and directed thriller knows how to play its audience. You can't help but want Sonia, a chambermaid whose life exhibits some bad karma, to pick lost-soul Guido out of the crowd at speed dating. Finally, something positive seems to go their way. But if so, why am I jumping at the least provocation, and what is making me feel so uneasy? Of course, it's a good kind of uneasy.

It's first-rate suspense. Every little detail seems to count, coming back later in the form of an I- get-it-now moment.

I don't know who their competitors were, but Filippo Timi and Kseniya Rappoport earned their best acting awards at the Venice Film Festival, as did the director Giuseppe Capotondi. Did they miss the deadline for submission into other film competitions? Did they forget to sign the forms? I can't understand why it didn't enter and win more accolades. It could have been an Oscar contender for foreign language film, it is that good.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian Spanish

Release Date:

9 October 2009 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Double Hour

Filming Locations:

Carmagnola, Turin, Piedmont, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$4,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$30,246, 17 April 2011

Gross USA:

$1,514,942

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,848,165

Company Credits

Production Co:

Indigo Film, Medusa Film, Mercurio Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1