Review of Unforgivable (2011) by Richard F — 07 Jul 2012

In "Unforgivable," Francis(Andre Dussollier), a famed author, is looking for a quiet place in Venice to do some writing, so Judith(Carole Bouquet), a real estate agent and art expert, suggests a nearby island. After thinking about it, he says he will take it if she moves in with him. Despite having doubts about sharing a bed with a man, a year and a half later they are married when his daughter Alice(Melanie Thierry), an actress, and granddaughter Vicky(Zoe Duthion) come to visit. All goes well until Alice disappears. First, Judith checks with Alvise(Andrea Pergolesi), a shady bit of nobility, before employing her friend Anna Maria(Adriana Asti), a semi-retired private detective, to take the case.

If the movie "Unforgivable" has one thing going for it, it is the city of Venice which been filmed many times before, but not quite like this as it smartly explores the dividing line between tourist and resident. Outside of its setting and the very fine acting, the movie has more than its share of flaws, starting with the derivative jealousy storyline involving Judith's past and present, although I do like the line about her turning others on but nobody turning her on which definitely reminds of me of a former friend. And then there are the other tangents in this rambling narrative which at least serve in the telling the intriguing story of this extended family, of which Anna Maria is the most interesting and ironically given the shortest shrift. What would have worked better is a more compact narrative in a controlled structure.