The Unknown Woman

R

Released May 30, 2008

1h 58m

Drama

List

68%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

79%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

A Russian woman (Kseniya Rappoport) keeps her true motives hidden when she worms her way into the home of a wealthy Italian family.

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Critics Consensus

If it's occasionally manipulative, this Italian melodrama mixes thriller conventions with a poignant love story and keeps the tension rolling from start to finish.

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David Fear

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

Tornatore, best known for Cinema Paradiso, has meticulously crafted a story that's at times so raw it hurts to watch. Its action blends piercingly lit flashbacks and dream sequences with a gray, prosaic present in an unnamed Italian city.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 24, 2008

Full Review

Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

The Unknown Woman falters when it falls into exploitation and fatal contrivance.

Oct 23, 2008

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Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

a movie that's almost impossible to get out of your head.

Rated: 4/5

May 6, 2009

Full Review

Enrique Buchichio

Uruguay Total

Un intenso y atrapante thriller con algo de melodrama que bien podra haber dirigido Brian de Palma.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 26, 2008

Full Review

Tricia Olszewski

Washington City Paper

Tornatore's instincts for crafting a stylish, nonlinear thriller are indisputable. But he's not yet a master, and at times you'll feel cheated even as you anticipate the next disquieting scene.

Oct 23, 2008

Full Review

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Nawt W

The movie has a very compelling premise that it tries to divulge through quick cuts of flashbacks that are stretched sparingly throughout the movie, leading you to believe that there is some kind of puzzle piece that's missing only to find out that there isn't and that it was all a misunderstanding and a rush to judgment. The prevailing tragedy of a very determined, broken, and fervent character doesn't really make Irena an interesting person outside of her actions. She is willing to go any lengths, screw anyone over, and even commit murder. So any real pity and compassion dissipate by the end, even when you consider what she has gone through, making the ending a bit undeserved. Not once in her confession have I heard anything about that nanny "slipping" on the stairs; it's like they forgot she did that. Aside from the very anticlimactic plot, the movie is carried by Kseniya Rappoport's acting and the strong supporting cast, especially the daughter. The direction is great, even if it can't compensate for the script. Even if some sound design attempts to mimic cheap horror stings with that violin yanking, Ennio Morricone's score is fantastic.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

um filme que não vai sair sua cabeça.tão cedo, belíssimo. è por estes filmes que gosto tanto de cinema...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Tasokasta mysteeri thrilleriä, jonka viimeinen 30min vähän latistaa tunnelmaa olemalla melkoisen laimea odotuksiin nähden. 3 1/2p

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Viewed via a dvd on which the subtitles were not working. I only had beginner Italian and caught a few words here and there, but it was very easy to follow this riveting story about a woman trying to escape her past. Clearly the female lead was wonderful as she maneuvered her way into a new life with a particular mission. Kudos to the director using close up shots and flashbacks to convey a thriller/melodrama reminiscent of Sirk mixed with Hitchcock'.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Somewhat confusing yet I couldn't stop watching.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

When you watch a Giuseppe film you can pretty much be sure that it will be 2 or so hours of a mixture of storytelling. The Unknown Woman is not an easy film to set your eyes on, tornatore reels us in within the 1st 2 minutes, a line of 3 women wearing only masks, from that point on we have 2 hours of pure emotion, drama, and some perfect acting from all concerned. Once again Tornatore (who in my opinion still doesn't get the attention he deserves as a film maker) makes a film that will make you not want to move from your seat.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

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Giuseppe Tornatore

Director

Kseniya Rappoport

Irena

Michele Placido

Mold

Claudia Gerini

Valeria Adacher

Pierfrancesco Favino

Donato Adacher

Alessandro Haber

Doorman

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

44%

33%

Quartet

25%

53%

Don't Tell

58%

55%

Interview

34%

33%

The Good German

100%

78%

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Synopsis

A Russian woman (Kseniya Rappoport) keeps her true motives hidden when she worms her way into the home of a wealthy Italian family.

Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Producer: Laura Fattori
Screenwriter: Giuseppe Tornatore
Production Co: Medusa Produzione
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Disturbing Violent Content|Torture|Language|Rape|Sexuality)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): May 30, 2008, Limited
Release Date (DVD): Jun 26, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.6K
Runtime: 1h 58m

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