The Keys to the House
| The Keys to the House (Le chiavi di casa) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Gianni Amelio |
| Produced by |
Elda Ferri Enzo Porcelli |
| Written by |
Giuseppe Pontiggia (novel) Gianni Amelio Sandro Petraglia Stefano Rulli |
| Starring |
Kim Rossi Stuart Charlotte Rampling Andrea Rossi Alla Faerovich Pierfrancesco Favino |
| Music by | Franco Piersanti |
| Edited by | Simona Paggi |
| Distributed by | Lions Gate Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian |
The Keys to the House (Italian title: Le chiavi di casa) is a 2004 dramatic family film based on the story Born Twice (Italian title: Nati due volte) telling the story of a young father meeting his handicapped son for the first time and attempts to forge a relationship with the teenager. The film was directed by Gianni Amelio.
Plot
Gianni (Kim Rossi Stuart) has left his son Paolo (Andrea Rossi) in the care of others since the day he was born. He has not been able to cope with the fact that Paolo’s mother died in childbirth and Paolo has not grown up like all the other children because of his handicap. Paolo is now fifteen years old and is about to meet his father for the first time. Gianni has been asked by the caretakers of his son to take him to a Berlin hospital for yearly tests and check-ups. According to their doctor, the "shock" of meeting his own father could help Paolo in his treatment.
When Gianni boards the night train which Paolo is already riding, it is Gianni who is in for a shock. Paolo does not seem particularly impressed nor disturbed by this first meeting with his biological father. He seems more interested in his Game Boy instead. Gianni and Nicole (Charlotte Rampling) meet accidentally in the Berlin hospital, and even though he feels awkward and almost ashamed at being seen as having fathered "such a child", they somehow connect. Nicole has spent her life caring for her daughter and could teach Gianni something if only he were willing to listen. Through a series of chance encounters aided by a book left behind by Nicole (Born Twice Italian title: Nati due volte, incidentally the book on which the film is based), they meet several times and get talking.
Awards
The film has won nine awards and fourteen nominations.
2004
In the same year of its release (2004) it won four awards and one nomination in the Venice Film Festival:
| Award | Category/Recipient |
|---|---|
| 'CinemAvvenire' Award | Best Film |
| Pasinetti Award | Best Actor |
| Pasinetti Award | Best Film |
| Sergio Trasatti Award | Gianni Amelio |
| Nomination | Category/Recipient |
|---|---|
| Golden Lion | Gianni Amelio |
2005
In the second year (2005) it won:
One award and six nominations in the David di Donatello Awards:
| Award | Category/Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| David | Best Sound (Migliore Fonico di Presa Diretta)
Alessandro Zanon |
| Nomination | Category/Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| David | Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista) |
| David | Best Director (Migliore Regista) |
| David | Best Editing (Migliore Montatore) |
| David | Best Film (Miglior Film)
Enzo Porcelli Gianni Amelio (director) |
| David | Best Music (Migliore Musicista) |
| David | Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura)
Stefano Rulli |
Three awards and five nominations in the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists:
| Award | Category/Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| Silver Ribbon | Best Cinematography (Migliore Fotografia) |
| Silver Ribbon | Best Director (Regista del Miglior Film Italiano) |
| Silver Ribbon | Best Sound (Migliore Presa Diretta)
Alessandro Zanon |
| Nomination | Category/Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| Silver Ribbon | Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista) |
| Silver Ribbon | Best Editing (Miglior Montaggio) |
| Silver Ribbon | Best Producer (Migliore Produttore)
Enzo Porcelli |
| Silver Ribbon | Best Screenplay (Miglior Sceneggiatura)
Stefano Rulli |
| Silver Ribbon | Best Supporting Actor (Migliore Attore non Protagonista) |
and two nominations in the Young Artist Awards:
| Nomination | Category/Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| Young Artist Awards | Best International Feature Film |
| Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in an International Feature Film - Leading Young Performance
Andrea Rossi |
2006
In the third year (2006) it won:
One award in the Turia Awards:
| Award | Category/Recipients(s) |
|---|---|
| Turia Awards | Best Foreign Film |