The Son's Room

A major filmmaker in his native Italy, writer-director-star Nanni Moretti (whose personal comedic dramas have often led to comparisons with Woody Allen) has been virtually ignored in the United States. Only CARO DIARIO (1994) saw a U.S. theatrical release; PALOMBELLA ROSSA (1989) is available on video. Moretti's international profile, however, was raised considerably in 2001 when this film, his 11th feature, won the Palm d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. While totally uncharacteristic of the kind of political, slyly self-referential films he's been making since the 1970s, it's a powerful piece of dramatic filmmaking. Moretti stars as Giovanni, a successful psychiatri...