After meeting at a speed-dating event, Guido, a former cop, and Sonia, a Slovenian chambermaid, embark on a passionate romance. But then they are victimized in a terrible crime. The less said about the plot from there, the more enjoyable its many surprises and twists, which last until the film’s final frames—shades of Polanski, Hitchcock and other noir greats. Tour-de-force performances by Filippo Timi (mesmerizing as the young Mussolini in Vincere) and Russian actress Ksenia Rappoport earned them both Best Acting awards at the Venice International Film Festival.
2011, 95 minutes, Italian and Spanish, with English subtitles, unrated
“Rappoport’s and Timi’s work on screen is subtle and smart and absolutely pitch-perfect. On one level, The Double Hour is a love story, and a story of forgiveness and trust and second chances. On another level, it’s a psychological puzzle, pulsing with suspense. . .a topflight Euro thriller.” —Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
“I’ve seen the fabulously acted Italian thriller The Double Hour twice now, and for all its intricate manipulations, it stays with me for a very simple reason: The love story at its bittersweet heart is played for keeps.” —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
CRITICS’ PICK! “The best movie of its kind since the French director Guillaume Canet’s hit from 2006, Tell No One.” —Stephen Holden, New York Times
