An Oscar nominee out of Italy, Don''t Tell ( La Bestia nel cuore ) is an intriguing and somber tale of a perfect life
that crumbles at the seams thanks to an unforgettable childhood memory.
One of the better movies of the year, Don''t Tell stars Giovanna Mezzogiorno as Sabina, a young woman who is more than content with her life. She has a loving husband and has become pregnant, and while her career as an Italian film "dubber" isn''t exactly what she had planned for, she enjoys it. But deep within her hides a secret, and one night the truth begins to reveal itself. She confronts her brother about her dreams and learns that he too experienced the horrendous acts as a child, committed by their late father. As she comes to grips with reality, her world falls apart as she can no longer accept the love of her husband nor can she confront the person who ruined her life.
Mezzogiorno is perfect in the lead role. Naturally beautiful, she is able to capture the essence of a woman who goes from being happy with what she sees in the mirror to hardly being able to look at her husband in the same way. Her eyes tell a lot, and for a foreign film that is important. Dialogue is hardly necessary as you can watch the emotional tension unravel throughout the course of the story.