THE UNKNOWN WOMAN in New York City
The first U.S. theatrical engagement for writer-director Giuseppe Tornatore’s mystery-drama The Unknown Woman, (previously known as — no pun intended — The Unknown) will finally take place on May 30, 2008, at New York City’s Angelika Film Center.
The Unknown Woman follows Irena, a mysterious Ukrainian woman (Xenia Rappoport) who finds work at the home of an affluent Italian family. While Irena does what she can to uncover the truth about the family, the past catches up with her.
The Unknown Woman was shortlisted for the 2008 best foreign-language film Oscar, but failed to make the final cut. Tornatore’s drama, however, fared quite well with the Italian Academy, winning five David di Donatello awards: best film, best director, best actress, best score (Ennio Morricone, his eighth collaboration with Tornatore), and best cinematography (Fabio Zamarion).
Additionally, The Unknown Woman was the top choice of the Italian film critics and of the 2007 European Film Awards audience vote, and won Tornatore the best director prize at the 2007 Moscow Film Festival.
In addition to her David di Donatello win, Rappoport received a best actress nomination for the European Film Award. Variety called her performance "one of the most deeply nuanced film portraits of a woman who has lived through the hell of human slavery."
Also in the cast, Michele Placido, Margherita Buy, Pierfrancesco Favino, Clara Dossena, Claudia Gerini, and veteran Ángela Molina (one of the two "objects" in Luis Buñuel’s last film, That Obscure Object of Desire).
Photo: Marta Spedaletti / © Outsider Pictures
Oscar Nominated Shorts at the American Cinematheque
Mick LaSalle, the Future, and Teen Pregnancies
LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN: Monday Nights with Oscar
Nicholl Screenwriting Competition Underway
Subscribe / Syndicate
3 Comments
Tags: David di Donatello, Giuseppe Tornatore, Ksenia Rappoport, The Unknown Woman, Xenia Rappoport
Comments
3 Responses to “THE UNKNOWN WOMAN in New York City”
Leave a Reply
NOTE:
All comments are moderated and may take some time before they are posted. Different views and opinions are welcome, but courtesy is imperative. Rude/crass/bigoted comments and name-calling of any sort will be immediately deleted.
Also, please be aware that the Alternative Film Guide has no contact information for the talent mentioned in this blog and no information pertaining to or access to distributors'/producers' film prints.
Giusepep Tornatore is one of my all-time favorite directors. I love “Cinema Paradise.” I think I’ve watched it 100 times.
Does this actress look like Tilda Swinton or is it just my imagination?
Perhaps she does look like Swinton. Could also be your imagination…