Review

"This is the mother's dirty work," remarks Nicole (Rampling), a mother faithfully looking after her handicapped daughter. She tells this to Gianni (Stuart), who has been reunited after 15 years with his own physically and emotionally disabled son Paolo (Rossi) after abandoning him at birth. Gianni's journey accompanying his son to hospital, where he'll get to know him for the first time, is as rewarding for both father and son as it is for anyone who watches this powerfully moving, remarkably controlled character study. Paolo, who uses a cane to walk and tries to be self-sufficient whenever possible, is a natural charmer. Graced with a wickedly sardonic sense of humor, Paolo wisecracks his way through reconciliation, hospital tests and his own soul-searching, using his humor to cope with his disability as best as possible. Gianni, whose first wife died giving birth to Paolo, is torn between the remorse of his earlier actions, a sadness seeing his son suffer, and unexpected joy in getting to know his son. Adapted from Giuseppe Pontiggia's autobiographical book "Born Two Times," the film tackles issues that are inherently heartbreaking, but thanks to a focused screenplay and mature, disciplined direction from co-writer Amelio, it never once succumbs to being emotionally manipulative or falsely sentimental. The Keys to the House finds its strengths from the very human elements that make Paolo such an appealing character and his father-son reunion so gripping. It's a film that's bathed in love, told from the heart, and is as inspiring as it is elegant and beguiling. The cast is uniformly fine, but it's young Rossi who will stay with you long after the final credits. (Italian with English subtitles)

 -- David Bleiler