Seven old friends (3 couples and a divorced man) are going to have a dinner and admire the eclipse of the moon. But as soon as they get together and start enjoying dinner one of them, woman named Eva, offers to play a game: they should share all text messages and incoming calls they received during the dinner. Some of them agree to play, some of them disagree and afraid of consequences, some of them want to be unmasked. Finally all of them start the game. They all are old friends - what could go wrong? But secrets are coming out...
One by one everyone's secrets are becoming public. Tension increases with every sound of ringtones. One lie causes other lies.
Characters are not very conspicuous as long as you don't know their secrets. For instance, there are the psychologist that doesn't accept herself (definitely she needs a therapy), a couple that bound together for only a guilty conscience, a husband cheating on his wife every chance he has. Your estimate of each character chances during the film.
Despite all lies, a friendship takes its place in the film. For example, it is very exciting to watch how Lele covers Beppes secret instead of saying true about him and acquitting himself.
The tension of the movie is diluting with humour. Jokes are well-timed and amusing.
Actors are excellent, you start to believe everything since the first minute. It seems like you are one of them, and you feel nervous about your own skeletons in the closet.
The film looks like a theatre play with minimum of decorations and actors. There is not much action in the film, but it is full of dialogues on philosophical and controversial issues which make audience think of them. However the main idea is that our secrets are not well-secured and mostly contained in a little box with screen and buttons.
The ending is very strong and emotional, in my opinion. The question "is it necessary to know the truth, if it could ruin your relationships?" is another thing to think about. This film doesn't give answers for questions it raises, but leaves you options.
I highly recommend to watch the film "Perfect Strangers" ("Perfetti sconosciuti") by Paolo Genovese, it captures the attention of audience from the beginning and keeps up the suspense until the last minute. I felt empathy for all actors during the film.
Review of Perfect Strangers
