SnoopyStyle Irena (Kseniya Rappoport) is a mystery woman obsessed with getting the nanny job with a particular family. She bribes the building's manager to clean the common area. She befriends the family's nanny and then she even trips her down the stairs to her death. Valeria Adacher, her daughter Thea, and husband Donato have a secret safe in their apartment. Thea is pushed around at school and Irena uses unconventional measures to toughen her. In the continuing flashbacks, Irena is an Ukrainian prostitute who finds love with a young man. That past is never far from her mind and comes back to harass her.This is a movie precious with its ultimate reveal. It does a great job creating some misdirections. It lasts a bit too long. The reveal should come sooner allowing a more compelling action thriller third act. It's a compelling mystery for the first hour. The sex slave montage does get repetitive and possibly reveals too much. This could be a more compelling thriller if it's tighter.

paul moliken not a false move anywhere in this movie. superb acting/direction. beautifully shot, yet disturbing, troubling, and brutal. a mystery, thriller, love story, but it's not simply about adult love, even though it's present;it has almost mother daughter love. murder, trickery,prostitution, thievery, cruelty, affection. stunning photography, great music, and a plot with believable twists. not a film that cheats the audience with false leads, implausible situations, or idiotic characters. great dialogue, even in the translation. not a car chase, snide, supposedly witty remark in it at all. some scenes are really difficult, but they are short snatches, quickly cut and edited. this one should rank up there with any recent Italian masterpiece.

johno-21 I saw this in April at a screening of the Desert Film Society in Palm Springs. From Italian director/writer Giusppe Toranatore, best known for Cinema Paradiso, this is the story of Irena (Kseniya Rappoprt), a Ukrainian immigrant who has become a prostitute in a European sex slave operation in southern Italy. The sadistic Mold (Michele Placido), besides pimping his sex slaves also uses them as baby machines in an underground adoption ring to unwitting upper middle class and wealthy childless couples. After stealing a large sum of cash from Mold, Irena escapes to the northwest of Italy with a plan to become the nanny of a couple, Donato and Valeria Adacher (Claudia Gerini and Pierfrancesco Favino) to be near their child, Tea (Clara Dossena) who she believes to be one of those that she gave birth to. To infiltrate the family she must first find someway to get the job from their current nanny Gina (Piera Degli Esposti). Released in 2006 this was Italy's official submission to the Academy Awards committee for Best Foreign Language Film of 2007. With a reworked story this could have been a suspense thriller reminiscent of Hitchcock but Toranatore takes it over the top as he attempts to add violence, gore and an uncomfortable tension reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino but without the humor. The implausible plot and improbable storyline of this film that never really decides what direction its going in is held together by a strong cast led by Russian actress Rappoport. Through a series of flashbacks you get weary of trying to piece this story together with no satisfying payoff. One can soon come to dislike the title character of Irena as the Unknown Woman despite the horrible ordeals she has faced in this very uncomfortable and pretentious film. Nice cinematography from Fabo Zamarion and excellent music from the legendary film composer Ennio Morricone but I would give this a 6.0 out of 10 and not recommend it but hope instead that Tornatore redeems himself with the Lenningrad project that was to be a Sergio Leon film that he's working on. At least we know it will look good and have good music.

heksigil "The Unknown Woman" is such an intense film that don't even think about "having a good time" while going to see it. "Cinema Paradiso" shouldn't be your reference for this "dark" Tornatore film. This is not for having a good time! This is for witnessing the lives that you can hardly think someone lived. This is feeling the pain of injustice in your veins. This is feeling shame that you live in such a world and can't and won't be able to do anything to change it. This is heart breaking! This is being absorbed by a touching story that is beautifully told. This is what cinema is for. One can only say,"Bravo Tornatore"!