'THE QUEER WORLD FROM A MIDDLE CLASS WOMAN POINT OF VIEW', by Guia Baggi

Death usually shocks people's lives but it might also push them to widen their knowledge of a person they loved and, through the discovery of his/her past, find a bit more about themselves.

This is the case of Antonia, the main character of the third film by the Turkish director Ferzan Özpetek, The Ignorant Fairies (Le Fate Ignoranti). Unexpectedly, Antonia finds herself alone by the accidental death of her partner. In the sorrow for the loss of her husband, Antonia discovers a second life she never imagined Massimo might have had.

Death and gender are again in The Ignorant Fairies the main motives in Özpetek's production, after The Turkish Bath - Hamam (1999) and before Facing Window (2003) and Saturn in Opposition (2007).

In her research of the truth, Antonia risks to take her husband's place in the strange family with whom he used to stay when for her he was at the stadium or at some conferences. It is a warm lively family very different from Antonia's normal middle-class life. To the point that she and her husband's lover, Michele, might fall in love with each other.

Unfortunately, looking more deeply into characters and their psychology, many stereotypes from which some sensibilities could take offense emerge: from Antonia's housemaid behaviour to Michele's infatuation for Antonia and, of course, his friends' features.

Özpetek's female characters are detached but determinate in struggling with their lives, while men are drawn complex, in crisis but strong at the same time. Sexuality is described in Özpetek's films especially from men's perspective but the main characters of his films are usually and sometimes involuntarily women.

Özpetek is some kind of Italian-Turkish Almodóvar. He was born in Turkey but studied at the Silvio D’Amico Drama Academy in Rome, and his works often combine his double culture. An emotional Margherita Buy plays Antonia's role, while Stefano Accorsi interprets Michele. The Ignorant Fairies was awarded with three Italian Silver Ribbons and with the prize as best feature at the New York Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.