Saturno Contro

A group of friends meet up for dinner. The hosts of these regular gatherings are the dynamic Lorenzo and his life partner, the successful writer Davide. The somewhat uptight Angelica is helping to prepare the food, while her Antonio has yet to appear. Also on the guest list is the abrasive Neval and her husband Roberto, Davide’s embittered ex Sergio, the spirited Roberta, and a new arrival, the budding writer Paolo.

This is one of the evenings during which these 40-somethings will remember the carefree existence of the past two decades, now edged out by everyday concerns and the somewhat perplexing spectre of the beginning of the rest of their lives. Brilliant group portrait artist Ferzan Ozpetek brings his characters towards a critical moment when they are forced to cast off their stiffened masks and to return to the very essence of the friendship which unites them.

Leading actors give themselves up to the sensitive guidance of a director whose originality lies in his ability to view life in all its melodramatic dimensions, naturally without resorting to cheap sentiment.

Karlovy Vary Film Festival Programme