Ten Winters (M)

A decade of missed chances underpins this beguiling, unassuming debut from Valerio Mieli, in a moving tale of two friends who secretly harbour feelings for one another. `Ten Winters` screened in the Venice International Film Festival`s Controcampo sidebar. Winter 1999, student Camilla (Isabella Ragonese, `La Nostra Vita`) leaves home to study and takes up residence in a semi-derelict house in an overcast Venice devoid of tourists. On the last leg of her journey - a ferry to her island – she`s spotted by a would-be Romeo, Silvestro (Michele Riondino, `The Past Is a Foreign Land`). Despite getting the brush-off, Silvestro follows Camilla to her home and manages to insinuate himself as a guest for the night, but he fails in his gentle efforts to seduce her. Over the next ten years Silvestro and Camilla develop a strong bond, and the narrative beautifully captures the bittersweet push and pull between two souls who keep finding their way back to each other. Charming performances by leads Michele Riondino and Isabella Ragonese combine with a restrained, intelligent atmosphere to create an involving romantic drama which echoes the mantra ``Would`ve, could`ve, should`ve`` and highlights that, in life, timing is everything.