Sadly Over-hyped

A Masterpiece!

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The film's English title, "His Secret Life", and the attendant cover photo imply that the film's story is about a man who leads a "secret life". We would infer, therefore, that the lead character in this film is male. Not so.The lead character is the man's wife, Antonia. The man gets knocked off early, and Antonia sets out to investigate on her own the truth about her husband.The film's acting is fine. I especially like the performance of the cook/housekeeper. And the film's production design is excellent. It's a talky movie with lots of soap opera dialogue, as Antonia insinuates herself into the lives of her husband's friends. And that's a plot contrivance that renders her behavior unrealistically pushy.But my overall negative view of this film is accounted for mostly by a title that is misleading.

This movie brought joy to my evening when I took a chance on it alone one Friday Night. The characters are an endearing group who grow on you... they all become more beautiful as time passes, & I was actually sorry to see the movie end. To me, it was not only a very interesting -& believable - story, it also brought me laughter & even tears at one point... This was a collective of individuals who supported & were supported by each other as they lived their lives in a spirit of creativity, sharing, caring & celebrating life which made me wish I too was a nearby neighbor...I really loved the way the main characters & their relationship developed...Lastly, a review would be incomplete without mention of the richly delicious soundtrack... which I am having difficulties locating... This movie is one I will see again, which I rarely do.

I found Le Fate Ignoranti to be superbly fascinating. It is a bittersweet tale of love, betrayal and friendship. Antonia is a doctor,specializing in HIV and Aids. She loses her husband, Massimo, in a tragic accident. A chance discovery of a love note from her husband's gay lover leads her on an emotional journey of realization and intrigue. Michele is the lover Massimo hid for seven years; he is equally devastated by Massimo's death. Michele lives in an exhilarating homosexual world among a group of misfits, including a transvestite, a man ill with HIV and a Turkish immigrant with a terrible secret.Together Antonia and Michele explore the ups and downs their newfound friendship, and eventually realize that they have more in common than just shared lover.I could not find one single fault with this film.Ordinarily I tend to avoid foreign films, as the message is usually lost in translation. However the true meaning of Le Fate Ignoranti is loud and clear, no matter what language you speak. The outstanding acting, flawless cinematography and charming setting make for magnificent cinematic experience. Above all the true beauty of this film lies in the way; it manages to capture its audience. It allows us to interpret the meaning to fit ourselves personally and to take something special away with us each and every time.

From the startling beginning to the somewhat ambiguous ending, this is an extremely watchable bit of cinema. The characters are diverse and interesting, and the acting throughout is excellent. The director uses the camera skillfully and the music underscores the action perfectly. I happened across this gem at 2 a.m. and couldn't turn it off, despite the fact that I have an aversion to subtitles. Actually, one thing that helped is that the titles were always legible, unlike those of some other films I've tried to enjoy on the small screen. This film is a depiction of a certain segment of gay Italian life as seen through the eyes of an outsider -- the widow of the central gay character's dead lover. The ex-lover and the widow, who also happens to be an AIDS doctor, form a complex relationship that's fascinating to watch. There are many other characters in the story, some of whom appear only fleetingly, but all of whom are artfully portrayed. I'll definitely watch His Secret Life again when I have the chance.