Fasten Your Seatbelts [Allacciate Le Cinture] ** (2014, Kasia Smutniak, Francesco Arca, Filippo Scicchitano, Carolina Crescentini, Francesco Scianna) – Classic Movie Review 12,804

Ferzan Özpetek’s 2014 stylish Italian romantic comedy drama film Fasten Your Seatbelts [Allacciate Le Cinture] stars Kasia Smutniak and Francesco Arca as beautiful people with opposing personalities, who try not to fall in love.

Co-writer/ director Ferzan Özpetek’s stylish 2014 Italian romantic comedy drama film Fasten Your Seatbelts [Allacciate Le Cinture] stars Kasia Smutniak, Francesco Arca, Filippo Scicchitano, Carolina Crescentini, and Francesco Scianna.

Ah, yes, opposites attract. but is that a good thing? Kasia Smutniak and Francesco Arca star as Elena and Antonio, two beautiful people with opposing personalities, who are overwhelmed by a mutual attraction though they try not to fall in love. She’s the nice one, and he’s the homophobic racist. Fasten Your Seatbelts, yes, because it’s life that’s going to the the bumpy ride, or is it love? What makes Elena fall for Antonio? Is he a guilty pleasure? Elena knows she is picking the wrong bloke in brutishly sexy handsome hunk Antonio, but does it anyway, with, er, mixed results. But love, or life, finds a way.

[Spoiler alert] Ferzan Özpetek gives himself an enormous challenge delivering a warm-hearted upbeat romantic comedy drama with its main character suddenly discovering she has cancer and enduring hospital therapy, but does it anyway, with, er, mixed results. So it’s easy to have mixed feelings about the film. A lot of folks might want to turn away, but Özpetek keeps positive, and smiles and whistles under all difficulties. As always, he does it in style. It is kind of depressing, despite Özpetek’s best efforts, but it’s also entertaining and quite charming too.

Kasia Smutniak is very appealing as Elena, and Francesco Scianna is pleasant company as her gay buddy and business partner Giorgio, while Paola Minaccioni stands out in as support as Egle Santini.

Though there are gay characters, homoerotic elements and gay sensibilities, this is not a gay-themed film this time from Özpetek, who continues his obsession with sudden illness or sudden death.

Kasia Smutniak and Paola Minaccioni won the Nastro d’Argento Awards for best actress and best supporting actress.

Cast Kasia Smutniak as Elena, Francesco Arca as Antonio, Filippo Scicchitano as Fabio, Carolina Crescentini as Silvia, Francesco Scianna as Giorgio, Carla Signoris as Anna, Elena Sofia Ricci as Viviana / Dora, Paola Minaccioni as Egle Santini, Giulia Michelini as Diana, and Luisa Ranieri as Maricla.

Luisa Ranieri plays Catena in Özpetek’s 2017 mystery thriller Naples in Veils [Napoli Velata] and Titti in Özpetek’s 2023 Nuovo Olimpo.

The films of Ferzan Özpetek: Hamam (1997), Harem Suare (1999), Le Fate Ignoranti [The Ignorant Fairies] (2001), Facing Windows (2003), Cuore Sacro (2004), Saturn in Opposition (2007), A Perfect Day [Un Giorno Perfetto] (2008), Loose Cannons (2010), A Magnificent Haunting [Magnificent Presence] (2012), Fasten Your Seatbelts (2014), Red Istanbul (2017), Naples in Veils [Napoli Velata] (2017), The Goddess of Fortune [La Dea Fortuna] (2019), Nuovo Olimpo (2023). Also the TV series Le Fate Ignoranti [The Ignorant Angels] (2022), based on the 2001 film.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,804

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com