neumu [ cinematronic ]




	His Secret Life
	Ferzan Ozpetek Margherita Buy, Stefano Accorsi, Serra Yilmaz, Andrea Renzi, Gabriel Garko, Erica Blanc 2001		In "His Secret Life," Antonia (Margherita Buy) makes a shocking discovery after the unexpected death of her loving, accommodating husband: Unbeknownst to her, he had a seven-year affair with a man. Thus begins this unmemorable Italian drama that features ascending young actor Stefano Accorsi ("The Last Kiss") as Michele — the virile, compassionate gay lover who loses his partner and has to live on, just like the widow. Subsequently, Antonia is sniffing around Michele's apartment and falls in with his randy, free-wheeling crowd — a polyglot mix of gays, transsexuals and queer hangers-on. The once-grieving, resentful Antonia finds herself strangely attracted to Michele, thanks to what we must assume is the same life force that enticed her late husband to stray from a supposedly happy marriage. It's all very politically correct and smothered in positivity. Director Ferzan Ozpetek is an ex-pat Turk who made the critically-acclaimed "Steam: The Turkish Bath," but "His Secret Life" is tepid.