Review 48 - Perfetti Sconosciuti 2016 (Italian), Dir. Paolo Genovese.
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Bong Joon-ho said, "Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films." And watching Perfetti Sconosciuti has made that quote feel more true than ever.
It took me a full week for me to translate my feelings into words because I couldn’t stop analyzing it. I kept wanting to find the meaning behind "Perfect Strangers" and what that phrase really meant. And today (11/11/24), while watching The Penguin season finale, a plot twist hit me like a brick, sometimes no matter how much we think we know a character, they reveal sides we never saw coming and devastate us to our core.
My thoughts on the phrase Perfect Strangers are: The unsettling realization when family, close friends, or people we trust with our secrets, have secrets that are so deep that when revealed, it feels like they are completely a different person. "Perfect" highlights how flawlessly its hidden. Not a hint for years but the only thing that pulls back the curtains is a random game and suddenly we’re face-to-face with a stranger signifying that even the closest relationships can be miles apart.
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Comparison with Khel Khel Mein
Before diving into the movie itself, I want to compare the original Italian version of Perfect Strangers to its Bollywood adaptation, Khel Khel Mein, since I mentioned in my review that I’d do a side-by-side.
The Italian version, though 30 minutes shorter, didn't feel like anything was missing. The Bollywood version spends a bit more time setting up the characters and has a dance number, which is expected. Still, both versions were well-paced.
One notable difference is the setting: the Italian version takes place in a casual house dinner, while the Bollywood version is set at a wedding which makes sense. In India, Adult friends often only reconnect at big events like weddings, reunions etc. In the West, casual dinner parties are more of a thing. So each version feels right for its cultural context.
The characters and plot points like the phone facing down, the sports coach, the cheating friend, and the plastic surgeon are all faithfully adapted.
The Italian version introduces the game more smoothly. In this one, Eva (Kasia Smutniak) brings up the idea of phones as black boxes and how many relationships would end if they had a look at each other's phones, sparking a natural flow into the game.
In Khel Khel Mein, Vartika (Vaani Kapoor) suggests it a bit more abruptly, which may feel off due to the flashy, less-intimate wedding setting when compared to the cozy, relatable feel of a dinner party.
Another thing I noticed is that the flow from one secret to another is much smoother in the Italian version. In the Bollywood one, I had mentioned that it often felt like the plot was sinking and the only thing keeping it alive was the jokes. The Italian one is much quicker with it and does a better job of letting the thrill die.
Lastly, the endings are different. Khel Khel Mein gives a more satisfying, full-circle moment where the characters acknowledge their issues and try to work on them, whereas the Italian version leaves things unresolved and the audience in despair. I'll dive deeper into this in the next part.
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The Story
The story is really solid, and as I mentioned, it shares some similarities with Khel Khel Mein, like the phone-switching, the stepdaughter issue, and the gay subplot.
The Italian version is far more brutal in how it tackles these themes. The conversation about sex feels just as charged, but the relationship between the stepdaughter (Benedetta Porcaroli) and Eva is more bitter. The stepdaughter even calls Eva a “bitch,” which adds another layer of tension compared to the Bollywood version where the stepdaughter is trying to build a relationship.
The only character who doesn’t have any secrets is Rocco (Marco Giallini), which gives him a bit of a moral high ground.
The portrayal of the gay subplot is much more brutal here. The way Carlotta (Anna Foglietta) and Cosimo (Edoardo Leo) react to Lele (Valerio Mastandrea) is incredibly self-centered. Carlotta and Cosimo are so caught up in their own world, worrying about how others perceive them, that they don't even apologize to Lele or Peppe when it’s revealed that Peppe (Giuseppe Battiston) is gay. There’s no remorse. When Peppe talks about protecting his boyfriend from the judgmental looks of his friends, it highlights how we often keep things hidden to protect those we love, even from ourselves. It’s a fascinating take on love and its irrationality. Ultimately, we always have secrets. That’s just how we survive in a world that demands perfection.
Another thing that really stands out is how heavy the secrets are in this version. Cosimo, just like his Bollywood counterpart, is a cheater, but the Italian version takes it further. Not only does he have one side chick, but he also has two and one of them is EVA! I was shocked by that reveal. To make things even more intense, one of his side chicks is pregnant, raising the stakes and making everything feel more dangerous.
A brilliant part of the writing is how the characters’ secrets are likened to serial killers and the idea that serial killers want to be found by leaving a trail. While it does not make sense for them, liars, on the other hand, often leave signs of their guilt, and the thrill of hiding the truth often outweighs the truth itself. It’s an interesting elucidation on the human need for recognition and the strange satisfaction that comes from keeping secrets rather than performing the action itself.
The way the film explores these themes is much more intense in the Italian version, making it a gripping watch.
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The Ending
While some might see the ending as poor writing, I find it brilliant. The reset, where the characters act like nothing happened, ties in perfectly with my analysis on the title. They are, after all "Perfect Strangers" . It plays out just like any regular dinner party on the surface. We’re forced to recognize how far apart these people actually are going back to their lives, back to the lies, cheating, and the pretend faces.
This film isn’t here to make you happy, it’s here to force you to confront the harsh reality of what lies can do. A few hidden truths unravel years of relationships and trust.
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To wrap this up, I want to leave you with one thought: We are all perfect strangers. We lie, cheat (maybe not always in the obvious sense, but in things like exams or small ways to get ahead), and we often try to climb to the top of the mountain while pretending it’s all easy. But in doing so, we end up becoming strangers to ourselves. The lies pile up so much that it is difficult to look at yourself in the mirror without feeling disgusted.
Maybe the only person we shouldn't lie to is ourselves. Because it’s a heavy price often paid by sacrificing your soul.
This movie is absolutely amazing! Even though I don’t know Italian, I still enjoyed every moment laughing, gasping, and completely engaged. Watching this made me realize just how vast the world of films is, and I definitely plan to dive into more movies from different languages. I also want to check out other adaptations of this film. If any of them are as good, I’ll definitely share my thoughts.
It’s a real thinker and a must-watch. 10/10.
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