Without questioning the undoubtedly gifted Ozpetek as director, this movie is a collection of ordinary stereotypes filling a non-plot. Opzetek is talented - though not all of the actors in the movie - but already after 20 minutes you wander what is the point... all the stereotypes are there: the gay, the racist, the affairs among best friends, the sickness, the obsessive mother, the modern family... What a shame. Looking at the general high quality of Ozpetek's movies and noting the number of prizes and nominations obtain by this latter - by far the worst - it is legitimate questioning the value of such competitions! There is only one moment in which you may feel the movie could move to a better direction, but also this one is missed... you will see it.

One may like or not Ozpetek's movies, but what is undeniable is that peculiar delicate touch which makes his movies like paintings only sketched and never accomplished, because accomplishment is not what really matters. This does mean his movies are ethereal or lack sense or reality: on the contrary, they are imbued with reality, often with dramatic reality, and "Allacciate le cinture" is a fine example, but what remains is not the sense of drama, but the delicacy of sentiments. In this picture you will not find an original plot, but I have never seen the theme of cancer treated with such strong sense of reality and at the same time with such delicacy and even fun, focusing on a choral world of fear, love, rage, tenderness, amusement… Shooting is always very carefully devised as to close up to the characters' eyes, without the need of too many words, and everything is wrapped around a bright light, enveloping characters and situations in a comforting hug. The cast is also wisely chosen, I was positively surprised by Kasia Smutniak, who leaves the mark, beyond her disarming beauty. And then there's a whole world of recurring characters in his movies, but who touches for intensity and bravura is Paola Minaccioni, who made me laugh and cry so much… I have read negative reviews concerning a melodramatic attitude of the picture: I think melodrama is exactly what Ozpetek avoids, and successfully.

Inspired by the Beauty and the Beast myth, Ferzan Özpetek's latest film has bourgeois would-be café owner Elena (Kasia Smutniak) falling in love with mechanic Antonio (Francesco Arca). Initially it seems that they are totally incompatible, but animal attraction draws them together. After a whirlwind courtship, they marry and have two children. Later on in life Elena contracts breast cancer; Antonio finds it hard to deal with the news, leaving Elena's best friend Fabio (Filippo Schiccitano) to step into the breach. In hospital Elena strikes up a relationship with fellow-victim Egle (Paola Minaccioni), but this is brought to a cruel end with Egle's death. Meanwhile Antonio learns how to cope with his wife's illness, and the two look forward to a certain amount of happiness. Özpetek builds the narrative around a circular structure, beginning and ending with Elena and Antonio's courtship, with the cancer plot in the center. This enables viewers to focus on the ways in which pore-marital dreams are realized or not, as the case may be. Through the use of slow tracking shots and zooms into close-ups of the main protagonists, he invites us to reflect on the characters' emotions, expressed nonverbally as well as verbally. Although this is a clever technique, it seems rather out of place in a slight narrative which basically reinforces the message that love conquers all. There are also some unfortunate implausibilities of plot that jar somewhat: it is highly unlikely that Elena would resume work so soon after having had chemotherapy; and she would certainly not entertain the idea of making love to her husband immediately after having been given another dose of the same therapy. While the film contains at least one stand-out performance by Minaccioni as Egle, as she tries the best to put a brave face on life, despite her illness, it is ultimately very disappointing.

Ferzan Ozpetek never disappoints. The screenplay seems to me perfect, then the compliments as well as Ferzan Also go to writer Gianni Romulus Also that is the producer of the film along with Tilde Corsi. The film is gorgeous, strong. Extreme delicacy comes with a Theme Very particular and heard in these years. The love prevails over all. Soundtrack amazing. Mano a Mano Rino Gaetano contributes GET greatly excite During the Vision of the film. Cast of Actors EXCEPTION, all Talented. They are able to GET move and smile at the same time. The locations of the film are beautiful, Ozpetek Also with this film contributes strongly to the Promoting tourism in the Territory of Salento. A MUST SEE!