Saturno Contro

Ever since his international hit with Hamam, Ferzan Ozpetek has been a filmmaker to watch. Saturno Contro is a richly satisfying look at a diverse group of friends and their reactions to a tragic illness. Like Ignorant Fairies and Facing Windows this is an ensemble picture in which we get to know a large group of gay and straight characters. The subtle differences and complex nuances of friendship and family ties are deftly drawn.

Luca and Davide are a successful gay couple and their friends include a troubled straight couple, Angelica and Antonio, Davide's ex-lover Sergio and Roberta, a lively woman with a taste for cocaine.

These are sharp-talking, fun-loving urbanites who could be from any international city (it's Rome) but their relationships with each other and the changes brought by unexpected death are both moving and heart-warming. The underlying message seems to be that different kinds of families and relationships just emphasise the universal humanity we all share.

Brian Robinson