Film Ozpetek: all the director’s titles, the best, genre

TOauthor of a cinema that explores themes such as identity, relationships and homosexuality, Ferzan Özpetek he is one of the most beloved and successful directors of the last thirty years. Born in Istanbul in 1959, and moved to Rome in the mid-70s, Ferzan he was able to combine in his films the two souls that define him: the Turkish onelinked to tradition, mystery and spirituality, and the Italian onelighter, more convivial and ironic. Here are his most intense and touching filmsfrom the debut The Turkish bath to Diamondslast season’s blockbuster.

Film Ozpetek: all the director’s titles, the best, genre

Saturn against (2007)

Intense and choral film that explores the fragility of feelings and the strength of human bonds, Saturn against tells the story of a diverse group of Roman friends (Pierfrancesco Favino, Stefano Accorsi, Luca Argentero and Margherita Buy, among others) whose harmony is upset by the death of one of them (Ennio Fantastichini).

Özpetek portrays delicately a microcosm where love, friendship and misunderstandings intertwine in an authentic way. Acting debut for Ambra Angiolini – winner of a David di Donatello – in the role of a drug addict addicted to astrology. Neffa’s soundtrack and the use of the song are unforgettable Remedios by Gabriella Ferri.

The ignorant fairies (2001), the film that consecrated Ferzan Ozpetek

After the sudden death of her husband, Antonia (Margherita Buy) discovers that the man had a secret relationship with Michele (Stefano Accorsi). Driven by curiosity, comes into contact with the boy’s world. From this meeting will be born an unexpected bondmade of mutual understanding and discovery.

Film that consecrated the Turkish director, The ignorant fairies it is a partly autobiographical melodrama and tells of diversity as richness, intertwining solitude and solidarity in a poetic and vibrant tale. In 2022 Özpetek created the remake series of the same name distributed by Disney+ and with protagonists Cristiana Capotondi and Edorado Scarpetta.

Loose cannons (2010), one of Ferzan Ozpetek’s funniest films

Set in Lecce, it tells the story of Tommaso (Riccardo Scamarcio)young heir to a family of very traditionalist pasta makers he returns home determined to reveal his homosexuality. His plan, however, comes shocked by an unexpected event that changes family dynamics: the unforeseen coming out of his older brother Antonio (Alessandro Preziosi).

Lively fresco from Salentowhere the contrasts between freedom and conventions emerge with lightness and depth, Loose cannons alternates comical and touching moments, always maintaining an affectionate gaze on the characters. The ensemble cast is extraordinary, with an unforgettable Lunetta Savino. The film has launched the career of singer Nina Zillipresent in the soundtrack with the soul-funk song 50 thousand.

The front window (2003)

It is an intense and refined melodrama which intertwines memory, desire and identity. The story is that of Giovanna (Giovanna Mezzogiorno), a young woman trapped in a dead marriage who finds new momentum to life thanks to the meeting with an elderly homosexual (Massimo Girotti) and with a mysterious neighbor (Raoul Bova).

Mixing intimacy and reflections on the weight of past stories, Özpetek signs a delicate direction, full of significant glances and silences. On the occasion of the film, Giorgia composed one of her most famous songs: Drops of memory, dedicated to ex-partner Alex Baroni passed away the year before due to a motorcycle accident.

New Olympus (2023)

Distributed directly on Netflixthe film mixes the 70s and the present following the story of Enea (Damiano Gavino) and Pietro (Andrea Di Luigi), two young people who fall madly in love but are separated by an unexpected event. Years later, the memory of that meeting continues to influence their lives, suspended between dream and reality.

Özpetek returns to his most cherished themes – time, loss and the strength of feelings – building a painfully autobiographical, elegiac and visually refined tale. In the credits of the film the song is present Poor loveplayed by Mina and contained in his album I love you like crazyor, who returns to collaborate with Özpetek afterwards The goddess of luck And The ignorant fairies.

The Turkish bath (1997)

Directorial debut of the Turkish filmmakerthe film follows Francesco (Alessandro Gassmann), a Roman architect who inherits an old hammam from an aunt in Istanbul. The man arrived in Türkiye with the intention of selling it he slowly lets himself be seduced by the rhythms, scents and people of that mysterious place. Falling in love with the young Mehmet (Mehmet Günsür).

Journey into identity, pleasure and freedom of being, The Turkish bath paints Istanbul as a crossroads of souls and desireswhere East and West delicately merge. The movie was presented in the Directors’ Fortnight of the 50th Cannes Film Festivalsubsequently winning numerous international awards.

The goddess of luck (2019), one of Ferzan Ozpetek’s most successful films

Arturo (Stefano Accorsi) and Alessandro (Edoardo Leo) are a couple in crisis after many years of living together whose routine comes shocked by the arrival of their friend’s two children (Jasmine Trinca)suddenly forced to move away. The presence of children it rekindles dormant emotions and forces the protagonists to question their bond.

Alternating comedy and drama, Özpetek constructs an intimate but universal story about love as responsibility and care. Furthermore, the direction, elegant and luminous, enhances faces and domestic spaces as places of the soul. The performance of Edoardo Leo and Stefano Accorsi was extraordinary. In the soundtrack, in addition to the unreleased Diamond moon of Mina, there is also What a wonderful lifethe first major commercial success of Diodate.

Sacred heart (2005)

Sacred heart has for protagonist Irene (Barbora Bobulova), a successful manager who lives immersed in luxury until a traumatic event, and an encounter with a little girl, force her to finally look inside herself. From that moment, her life changes direction, pushing her to question your world and the values ​​that govern it.

A story full of symbols and religious suggestionsthe film alternates realism and mysticism with great visual elegance. Barbora Bobulova’s performance was splendid, intense and authentic, awarded with a David by Donatello. Also in the cast is Erika Blanc and the future director of The last night of LoveAndrea Di Stefano.

Fasten your seat belts (2014)

Elena (Kasia Smutniak) is a young waitress who falls in love with Antonio (Francesco Arca), wrong but irresistible man. Thirteen years later it is unhappily married to himand mother of two children, but the diagnosis of breast cancer becomes an opportunity to reflect on the paston the choices made and on what really matters in life.

Alternating sentimental comedy and deep dramathe film benefits from warm environments of Salento which contrast with the darkness of the disease. Film about love, family, illness and rebirthcan count onintense and credible acting performance by Kasia SmutniakFrancesco Arca is a little less convincing.

Veiled Naples (2017), a film by Ozpetek that explores the thriller genre

Veiled Naples has for protagonist Adriana (Giovanna Mezzogiorno), a young woman who lives a peaceful existence until meeting Andrea (Alessandro Borghi), an enigmatic man who involves her in an intense and dangerous relationship.

First film by the Turkish director set in Naples, mixes the intimacy of feelings with an elegant suspense, making the city a character in itselfwith dark and almost esoteric atmospheres. In the soundtrack there is the poignant Vasame, cover of a song by Enzo Gragnaniello played by Arisa.

Ferzan Özpetek’s latest film

Diamonds (2024)

Choral and refined, Diamonds places women at the center of the narrative. The movie it is set between the Rome of the present and a great cinematographic tailor’s shop in the 70s. A director (Özpetek himself) decides to call together his favorite actresses for a project about women, but what seemed “just” a film turns into a journey through time and in desires. Where the sewing machine, the fabrics, the skirts become symbols of freedom, bonds and memory.

Diamonds celebrates the beauty of craftsmanship and the power of womeninterweaving metacinematic reflections and historical reconstruction. The cast is very rich: from Luisa Ranieri to Lunetta Savino to Mara Venier. Beyond the wildest expectations, the film grossed over 16 million euros.