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The Keys to the House
Dir: Gianni Amelio France / Germany / Italy 2004 105 minutes CLUB
Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Andrea Rossi, Kim Rossi Stuart
A father who has never met his disabled son is forced into re-examining his life when he has to accompany the teenage boy to a clinic in Berlin. The experience is painful, challenging but ultimately life affirming as the man is made to face his own prejudices and recognise both his son's limitations but also his great strengths. The father is also aided by meeting Nicole (Charlotte Rampling, giving a wonderful character performance), the mother of another child with learning disabilities in the clinic, who shares her own experiences with him. It is worth stressing that this is far from being a downbeat, depressing film, instead it is imbued with genuine warmth, humour and believable characterisations.
Loosely adapted from a book by Giuseppe Pontiggia, this is an unsentimental story, beautifully realised by noted Italian veteran filmmaker, Gianni Amelio (whose previous work includes Blow to the Heart and Open Doors). It is also embellished by an understated orchestral score from Franco Piersanti and luminous cinematography from probably Italy's most prolific director of photography, Luca Bigazzi (who was also responsible for photographing Consequences of Love). - Adrian Wootton, London Film Festival
Gianni Amelio has been making films for television since 1970 and made his first feature for cinema in 1982. The Keys to the House is Amelio's fourth film to be selected as Italy's Oscar candidate. Previous candidates were 1994's L'America, 1992's Stolen Children and 1989's Open Doors.
“Intense, deeply-felt.” - The Guardian
Winner - Best Director Award, Best Cinematographer Award / Nastri d’Argento
Winner - Special Jury Prize / Seville International Film Festival 2004
Winner - Sergio Trasatti Award, Cinemavenire Award / Venice Film Festival 2004
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