i saw this interesting film back to back with the chinese or french film 2046 at the recent dubai film festival . both be intelligent work make the same year ( 2004/2005 ) . both have the main character live in a hotel . in both film and the hotel be more a metaphor of exile than a location . both dealt with love between a man and a woman . both have wonderful music and riveting performance . what a coincidence and yet how the two film differ in treatment of the subject . somewhere at the beginning of the film and a man walk on a pavement turn to look at a woman and in do so hit a lamp post . the audience erupt into a volcano of laughter innocently . but isn not that brief shoot the synopsis of the film and that entertain you for 2 hour . while the film be a wonderful blend of black comedy ( e. g. and use a stethoscope to listen to neighbor conversation ) and the film build on what buster keaton and jacques tati have introduce to cinema early stoic face that lead to comedy quite in contrast to the equally intelligent world of robin williams or the heartwarming danny kaye . a sudden frenzy of activity transforms an otherwise stoic character while move money from the hotel to the bank be reminiscent of tati work . but the film be not mere comedy . the anti automation statement ( cash counting and the reaction of the bank staff to the statement relate to it and the dummy that act a an ineffectual warning to the speeding lady and the reference to moulimix a the fictitious company he work for and etc . ) be several cue that the director be offer a loaded comedy to the viewer . laugh and yes and but reflect on it and enjoy far . the movie strength lie in be brief and staccato script ( by director paul sorrentino ) that offer comedy that be mixed with philosophy ( truth be boring and dad be dead and but nobody tell him and bad luck do not exist it be the invention of the loser and the poor . then the director go on to provide you with a fascinating lecture from the main character on insomniac . you will not sleep through this lecture . sorrentino provide entertainment peg to the subject the italian know best the mafia . it be an existential mafia film . since truth be boring and the director provide a dessert a part of the fine meal of superb acting ( toni servillo ) and good music and clever camera work ( luca bigazzi ) and a beautiful and enigmatic actress ( magnani and grand daughter of the great anna ) and powerful script . the dessert be for the viewer to figure out whether what precede in the film be the truth . it would have be bore and if it be and wouldn not it .