7 Minutes (2016)

The owners of an Italian textile factory sell the majority of the property to a multinational company. No layoffs are planned, but there's a special clause in the agreement that the new ... See full summary »

Director:

Michele Placido

Writers:

Stefano Massini (play), Michele Placido (screenplay)

Stars:

Cristiana Capotondi, Fiorella Mannoia, Maria Nazionale

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Cristiana Capotondi	...	Isabella Coccia
Fiorella Mannoia	...	Ornella
Maria Nazionale	...	Angela Tufano
Ottavia Piccolo	...	Bianca De Meo
Anne Consigny	...	Madeleine Rochette
Violante Placido	...	Marianna
Clémence Poésy	...	Hira
Sabine Timoteo	...	Micaela
Michele Placido	...	Michele Varazzi - il proprietario della fabbrica
Luisa Cattaneo	...	Sandra Renzoni
Erika D'Ambrosio	...	Alice
Balkissa Souley Maiga	...	Kidal (as Balkissa Maiga)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ambra Angiolini	...	Greta
Vincenzo Bonomo	...	L'avvocato di Madame Rochette
Bruno Cariello

Storyline

The owners of an Italian textile factory sell the majority of the property to a multinational company. No layoffs are planned, but there's a special clause in the agreement that the new owner wants the council to sign. Eleven women representing the whole factory will have to decide whether to accept the company's request or not. The debate turns on, and the stories of the women, made of hopes and memories, will emerge before the final vote.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Italy]

Country:

Italy France Switzerland

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

3 November 2016 (Italy)

Also Known As:

7 Minutes

Filming Locations:

Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Goldenart Production, Manny Films, A&G

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (as Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

French visa # 144570.

User Reviews

A social drama without sanctimonious rhetoric

Well, to say the least, "il bel uomo" Michele Placido ("Till Marriage Do Us Part, "Marcia trionfale", "Three Brothers"...), has become along with time a heck of a director ("Romanzo Criminale", to name but one example). This time, with "7 minuti", Placido is back in business in a big way. Not only is the subject he has chosen food for thought but the Italian director manages to make the potentially dry subject a great show, full of tensions and suspense. All this from a simple but very effective starting point: the buyers of a textile factory promise no layoffs on the only condition that the she-workers give up seven minutes of their fifteen minute break. Following this offer, eleven of the staff representatives, including their spokesperson (Ottavia Piccolo), gather for the vote and... the heated discussions preceding it. Socially relevant (there are countless cases where workers have to face such dilemmas) honest (naive optimism is not on the agenda while racism, hatred and jealousy are rife; all the points of view are exposed and debated) and committed (employment blackmail is harshly denounced), Placido's last opus is also a model of construction (an "in camera" drama in the line of "Twelve Angry Men", complete with clashes pitting the ones against the others and final suspense) and of actress direction (all the performers, young, mature or old ARE sensational). All in all, this film is an exploit in its ability to talk straight and to entertain at the same time. Agreed, Michele Placido is not the only one in this category (Martin Ritt's "Norma Rae" is another example of such a talent) but he is one of the few artists capable of such achievements.