His Secret Life (2001)

Very Cool!!!

A different way of telling a story

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It is such a delight to watch a gay-themed film which is not over-indulged in melodramatic sentiment and what's more precious is that it innovates an authentic and positive gay community within to encourage more people to look on the brighter side of the world.Ozpetek's self-imposed gay identity opens a gate for us to see more scrupulously into contemporary gay communities, without the thwart of the religion, the social prejudice, the indoctrinated moral standards from family and friends. It manifests that sexual orientation is much of a choice rather than any mammoth title being forcefully added upon this minority group.The film is epidemic to all kinds of demographic classes, gay/straight/bi-sexual, man/woman/transsexual, everyone could dip into it and acquire different nutrition which he/she needs.The acting is generally agreeable, Margherita Buy as the female protagonist, manages an amiable appearance to elevate the inner intricate complexion of her character. Stefano Accorsi, on the other hand, is more an unsubdued opposed image to underline the other facade of Margherita's role, a quirky chemistry could emerge between this two friend and foe (demonstrated by an explicit kiss scene where both try to find the scent of her husband/his lover), as a matter of fact, it is individual nuance matters here, anything else could not be exerted as a criterion anymore.The Turkey-born director Ferzan Ozpetek's skill hones to a new state after his debut STEAM: THE Turkish BATH (1997) and LAST HAREM (1999), the milieu and the myriad of different characters develop an affluent emotional touch eventually (although most of them are underwritten as a sacrifice of the main storyline).Anyhow, Ozpetek has established his fame and poise as the most promising contemporary Italian directors, his latest work LOOSE CANNONS (2010) will be my next object.

What I believed to start off as a Lifetime TV movie, 'His Secret Life' thoroughly surprised me. We begin with Antonia (played by Margherita Buy, a Meg Ryan/Dee Wallace crossover) losing her husband to a traffic accident. Now if you can get by the hilariously bad death scene (I had to rewind 2x to make sure I saw that…that strange scene of the husband flying back and forth), you're in for a great treat. She learns of (insert title here) and seeks out the other woman. Now, not to spoil anything (the set up I just gave is in the first 10 minutes or so, and the title/box cover gives away the following) but the other woman turns out to be another man and Antonia develops a strange, but unique friendship with him and his family of friends. Within seconds, the director/writer of 'Life' actually develops a believable group of close-knit friends/neighbors and you easily get drawn into their world. Bravo to the authenticity that's created and the reasons Antonia sticks around. When her husband's life ended, her life officially began. Now, unlike the previous fear I had this would turn into a Lifetime movie-of-the-week, this had such a real feel to it (all the way to the closing) that it outshined a lot of "coming-to-terms" movies, such as 'Under the Tuscan Sun.' (Side note: I did like 'Sun' but it was a lot more Hollywood than this feature.) All the actors were excellent in their roles, but Buy outshined the rest. You can see her transformation into a world she was inadvertently thrust into, her acceptance of a lifestyle she only all-but read about in text books (she's an AIDS doctor, but apparently never got to know (some of) her patient's lives.) Highly recommended little gem.

The main thing I couldn't understand is how our heroine Antonia could spend so much time with her late husband's lover and groupie. Where were Antonia's friends, or didn't she have any? How could she almost abandon everything of her former life and take up with this new crowd, dubious as she obviously felt about them? Then what is Michele doing, devoting so much time and attention on her? In fact, the most of what we see of his circle is one gathering after the next. Just a succession of group meals and socials.What does the title, "The Ignorant Faries," refer to? I'm not at all sure this was demonstrated. Or, is the subtitle,"His Secret Life" fully apropos to the actual story being told? With a title like this, I expected a film more about a living than dead person.Finally what was the erotic scene between Antonia and Michele? It seemed the writers dropped this moment as fast as it occurred. And in the end Antonia is seen traveling off, yet not to the destination she announced. Where to then, or doesn't it matter? The production was fortunate to have such a talented cast. They brought life and nuance to their roles, lifting this varied script to a higher level than it otherwise would have achieved.

If film is about the message it wants to convey to its audience, this film has definitely achieved it. The subtle depiction of the gay community is so much different from the usual Hollywood stereotype gay men - your Queer as Folk kinda guy. While the soapy detail of Queer as Folk casts the image of the gay community as something really really different from the straight community hence giving it some sort of exclusivity (despised by many of the so called straight righteous community), Le Fate Ignoranti portrays the gay community as just 'the other human being.' Different maybe, but it doesnt emphasize the difference to the level that no straight mortal will be able to immerse let alone understand it. Le Fate Ignoranti portrays the gay community as just another 'group' in our society, facing the same humane problems - that gay men are nothing but another human beings deserve the same humane treatment and respect.Michele is so differently refreshing from his Hollywood counterparts, full of dignity and no cynicism towards the world that you usually find in those so called gay Hollywood films. While Hollywood gay men show only insecurity with their identity, Michele is oozing with confidence and is perfectly comfortable with his sexuality.This film and director Ferzan Ozpetek has definity done great job in the effort of establishing more insight into a 'more real' depiction of gay community.