Stanza del figlio, La (2001)

Director:

Nanni Moretti

Writers:

Nanni Moretti (writer) and
Linda Ferri (writer)

Release Date:

9 March 2001 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A psychoanalyst and his family go through profound emotional trauma when their son dies in a scuba diving accident.

Plot Keywords:

Family | Diving | Basketball | Doctor Patient Relationship | Family Tragedy

Awards:

9 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Nanni Moretti	...	Giovanni
Laura Morante	...	Paola
Jasmine Trinca	...	Irene
Giuseppe Sanfelice	...	Andrea
Sofia Vigliar	...	Arianna
Renato Scarpa	...	Headmaster
Roberto Nobile	...	Priest
Paolo De Vita	...	Luciano's Father
Roberto De Francesco	...	Record Store Clerk
Claudio Santamaria	...	Dive Shop Clerk
Antonio Petrocelli	...	Enrico
Lorenzo Alessandri	...	Filippo's Father
Alessandro Infusini	...	Matteo
Silvia Bonucci	...	Carla
Marcello Bernacchini	...	Luciano

Also Known As:

Chambre du fils, La (France)
Giovanni (Italy) (working title)
The Son's Room (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Italy:T | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ancona, Marche, Italy

Company:

Bac Films

Trivia:

The Latin lines that crop up are from Lucretius' De rerum natura. The full passage reads as follows: "Haec sic pernosces parva perductus opella; namque alid ex alio clarescet nec tibi caeca nox iter eripiet, quin ultima naturai pervideas: ita res accendent lumina rebus. (Lucretius, De Rerum Natura I, 1114-1117) An (old-fashioned) English translation: "These points, if thou wilt ponder, Then, with but paltry trouble led along... For one thing after other will grow clear, Nor shall the blind night rob thee of the road, To hinder thy gaze on Nature's Farthest-forth. Thus things for things shall kindle torches new."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Insieme a te non ci sto più

True, real emotion

Nanni Moretti's deserved winner of the Palme D'Or was a controversial choice, if only because it is a film grounded in reality and truth. We know these characters for a change, they are the neighbours whom we fear approach because of their loss and raw pain.

Moretti, in his subtle yet magnificent performance and in his deft, assured direction, has crafted a film which transcends cliche and sentimentality in spite of its well trodden subject matter. As in his earlier effort, 'Caro Diario' the viewer is held transfixed by his languid cinematic storytelling, which is nonetheless riveting.

Without resorting to pat endings or easy solutions to the characters' individual suffering (beautifully rendered by each of the performers, whose roles portray distinct yet relevant facets of grief) the film manages a redemption in unexpected, yet highly satisfying, fashion. I left the screening at the Toronto International Film Festival feeling completely exhilarated and grateful to this natural filmmaker.

A beautiful portrait of true, real emotion.