When a young couple happens upon an amnesiac old man, they don't realize he will eventually be the unwitting catalyst to their strained marriage.
As the mystery surrounding the stranger is revealed bit by bit, we also learn of the wife's deep unhappiness with her marriage and her career. We also learn of the handsome bachelor in a neighboring apartment, whose window looks into her kitchen.
Giovanna Mezzogiorno does an astounding job as Giovanna, the frustrated and depressed wife, delivering a taut yet emotional performance. Equally as talented is Massimo Girotti as Simone, in this, his last film before his death in 2003. With little more than posture and a look, he is able to convey utter desolation. And Raoul Bova does a passable job as the love-struck neighbor.
The supporting cast, including Filippo Nigro in a throwaway role as Giovanna's husband, are barely sketched out, however, and exist as only backdrop for what is the wife's tale. And it's a fairly pedestrian one, with only one question: Will she cheat? Once Simone's mystery is solved, and once Giovanna's question is answered, director Ferzan Ozpetek's entire film deflates like a bumped souffle. However, up to that point, it certainly is a tasty treat.