Le fate ignoranti (2001)

Director:

Ferzan Ozpetek

Writers:

Gianni Romoli (screenplay) and
Ferzan Ozpetek (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

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...

Plot Keywords:

AIDS | Gay | Subculture | Gay Father | Loss Of Lover

Awards:

7 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

His Secret Life (UK) (USA) (festival title)
Tableau de famille (France)
The Ignorant Fairies (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexuality.

Runtime:

106 min | Argentina:110 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | UK:109 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian | Turkish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Italy:T | Argentina:13 | France:U | Spain:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Netherlands:12 | Chile:14

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

R&C Produzioni

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Quasi quasi... (2002)

Soundtrack:

Birdenbire

Beautiful, Intense and Captivating

I found Le Fate Ignoranti to be superbly fascinating. It is a bittersweet tale of love, betrayal and friendship.

Antonia is a doctor,specializing in HIV and Aids. She loses her husband, Massimo, in a tragic accident. A chance discovery of a love note from her husband's gay lover leads her on an emotional journey of realization and intrigue.

Michele is the lover Massimo hid for seven years; he is equally devastated by Massimo's death. Michele lives in an exhilarating homosexual world among a group of misfits, including a transvestite, a man ill with HIV and a Turkish immigrant with a terrible secret.

Together Antonia and Michele explore the ups and downs their newfound friendship, and eventually realize that they have more in common than just shared lover.

I could not find one single fault with this film.Ordinarily I tend to avoid foreign films, as the message is usually lost in translation. However the true meaning of Le Fate Ignoranti is loud and clear, no matter what language you speak. The outstanding acting, flawless cinematography and charming setting make for magnificent cinematic experience. Above all the true beauty of this film lies in the way; it manages to capture its audience. It allows us to interpret the meaning to fit ourselves personally and to take something special away with us each and every time.