a lack of character development prove fatal for this movie . valeria golino character grazia start out look like a bipolar personality but quickly degenerate into a caricature and seem unreal . the other character be thin and probably the writer fault not the actor . the only exception be filippo pucillo a the young son filippo represent his energy and bravado be funny and convince . i suppose the child petty cruelty be suppose to contribute to an atmosphere of bleakness and emphasize the pervasive primal spirit in the town and but for me and the gratuitous cruelty be redundant and contribute to the overall boredom of the film . some scene be amuse but not necessarily intend that way and for example and when the mistreat dog turn out to be fat and healthy and look like they be ready to show . the pretty cast and set make for an appeal trailer but can not carry the whole movie .