See a door in this film and hell and a disciple of the devil is not far away. Based on a true story.
Franco Celeste (Francesco Di Leva) returns to his Rome home after serving 9 years for armed robbery. Given that his wife Licia (Barbara Ronchi) expects his return and changes the locks on her door Franco is not welcome but nonetheless he worms his way in to play the role of husband.
Immediately after his release Franco approaches his two children Luigi (Francesco Gheghi) and Alessandro (Marco Cicalese) and when Alessandro refuses to hug him Franco gives him a nasty slap in the face.
School authorities advise Licia her children are increasingly isolated and show her a writing from one of them wishing their father would stop slapping their mother.
Licia obtains a restraining order against Franco and is “rewarded” by the state seizing her children and placing them in foster homes for 4 years.
As a young man Luigi joins a fascist group comprised of angry young men fuelled by nonsensical slogans and hatred of all political groups. Luigi stabs a “leftist” in a street brawl and is sentenced to nine months in prison.
Both Franco and Luigi have done time for violent acts. Like father like son?
Franco and Luigi establish a friendship and again Franco worms his way into the household saying while he has been living with his sister, he had an argument with her and asks to join his sons and wife for “a few days”.
Harmony ostensibly is established until again Franco erupts violently sneaking into Licia’s workplace and seeing her enjoying a cigarette and chatting with a male colleague nearly chokes her to death leaving large bruises on her neck as of course “you’ve been fucking him.”
Luigi persuades the police to investigate and charge Franco but upon arriving at the house and questioning Licia she responds saying all is fine. Luigi attempts to throw Franco out but he worms back saying to Luigi that he is just like him. Yes, both have been convicted and sentenced for violent crimes but the similarity ends there.
Franco says to Luigi he will never change and you know what you must do. A violent ending and one must query in certain circumstances is violence the only solution?
A study of domestic abuse where there appear no easy solutions for effectively curbing psychopathic violence. And where the solutions fail to work dysfunctionality mushrooms causing misery and anger for the innocents.
You may ask why does Licia continue to take Franco back into the home? She is terrorized and perhaps she realizes, like Franco, he’ll never change and continue the abuse state authorities simply are incapable of eradicating and in this case exacerbating by seizing two young children and placing them in foster homes destroying the lives of whom they are supposedly protecting.
Both a gloomy story and cinematography. Strong performances throughout.
Watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7m56uOUH8I
Directed by Francesco Costabile.
RKS EURO FILM RATING 93/100.
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