Reviews

This is a very interesting film that raises many questions about identity in general, not just in the context in Israel. What makes us who we are, our blood or our upbringing? And what happens if we're adopted, is there something, anything inherent in our being that makes us who we are despite the people around us? Purely as a piece of cinematography, it's a good film and well acted. As a social comment, or as a piece of art that raises relevant questions about human social identity, it's a lot more. And what happens in a situation where babies are mixed up, and raised outside the social context of their birth parents? How should both families proceed once they find out about the mix-up? Essentially, a mistake can brings people together. The outstanding problem, remains the society the families live in.

So, yet another series based on intrigue and conspiracy. Yet another series with one techie person who knows everything there is to know about every technical device, encryption system, etc. and who can hack into anywhere at any time within minutes or occasionally a few hours (and who can say in advance how long it will take) and who can read code straight from the sheet! Where everyone can manipulate anyone else (within one episode) to obtain whatever they want. Where everyone has all the right contacts. Where all the most amazing (no, let's call it just incredible) things keep happening, within the same urban area. It's really unimpressing and more daytime TV than prime time. And, on top of it all, they all remain really glamorous, well dressed (even when 'cleaning up' blood spatter'!!) and rested, despite working 24 hours a day to "fix" just about anything. I don't buy it. (and incidentally, even when cleaned up industrially, blood remains detectable on most surfaces...). At the end of the day, it's watchable, but nothing more. If another, good series is on, I'd choose that.

This is a film that ticks all the boxes in the genre. There's romance, mystery, laughs and sadness, atmosphere, a very good story, social comment, and great cinematography and acting. Not a wasted moment; everything is right and in the right place. Facing Windows is a pleasure to watch and then reflect on and discuss afterwards. It's always good to have entertainment that is a pleasure per se while offering some more intellectual enjoyment as well. And yet you cannot help feeling that these are ordinary people's unglamorous lives, that this could be me, or someone I know; these could be, or are, my problems too, my uncertainties, my difficult decisions. Özpetek has been a good director from the beginning, but gets better with each film.

The film is predictable, slow, badly written, and really pointless. It has nothing original to say and most of the plot is either unbelievable or contrived. It contains many v e r y long silences and the action could have been speeded along in many easy ways. It is a very unprofessional effort that won't go down in any history of LGBT movie-making. I spent the whole film waiting for something dramatic to happen, or at least to get painlessly to the next scene. I have the impression that the writers just had no idea where they were going - as if their premise was 'two lonely guys find love'. That's just not enough. Everything, even the movements, are slow. They could easily have edited out over half the film and the essential storyline would remain intact. A film like this can only win prizes if there the competition is even worse... which just makes you feel sorry for LGBT juries everywhere.