"The Unknown Woman" by Guiseppe Tornatore is an Italian film released in 2006. This remarkable film is about a former prostitute who believes she has tracked down one of the many children she was forced to give away by her pimp. Kseniya Rappoport stars in this film. Irena (Rappoport) is a Ukrainian woman who plans on doing what ever it takes to become the maid and nanny to an Italian family she believes adopted her daughter. In the beginning of film you see Irena's past haunt her as nightmares while she tracks the current maid of the Adacher family.
Irena befriends the maid and attempts to learn all she can about how she can impress the family. She steals the maid's keys and makes copies of them so she can break into the house and learn even more. Eventually she steals their garbage and figure out what kind of food they like and learn how to make it. Irena eventually trips the maid when she is going down the stairs, killing her. She then takes the maids place in the household.
More and more flashbacks occur revealing more about Irena. The graphic rape scene replays several times. Irena does her best to befriend the daughter, Tea, but her attitude is one that Irena does her best to break through. Eventually Tea likes Irena and they begin to bond. Tea is taught by Irena how to defend herself if she is ever knocked down. Irena learns of a secret place where Valeria, Tea's mother, keeps the safe. One night when Valeria and her husband, Donato, go out, Irena attempts to break into the safe to find the adoption records.
Valeria begins to become very suspicious of Irena. Eventually Valeria fires Irena. One night when Irena's pimp (the man she thought she killed) comes back, Valeria visits Irena to discover Irena found the adoption papers and realizes Irena believes Tea is her daughter. Believing Valeria to be a risk, Irena's pimp sabotages Valeria's car and frames Irena for it.
Irena finally kills the pimp, but is arrested for Valeria's murder. The truth comes out about why Irena was working for the Adacher family and that she killed her former pimp. She is given a plea bargain for the pimp's murder. When Irena is released years later, Tea is there waiting for her.
The theme of this movie is fighting for something you truly love. Irena had so many children she had to give up and when she found out where one of them was, she risked everything just to get to know her daughter.
I would recommend this film for anyone who likes dramas and somewhat unforeseen twists. Director Guiseppe Tornatore brings a tear jerker of a film that will have you going through several boxes of tissues by the credits.
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