The Unknown Woman

The Unknown Woman was directed by  Giuseppe Tornatore, an Italian director, ever directed Cinema Paradiso(1988), The Legend of 1990(1998). According to information, the film won:

David di Donatello (Italy)

•  Best Actress – Leading Role (Kseniya Rappoport)
•  Best Cinematography (Fabio Zamarion)
•  Best Director (Giuseppe Tornatore)
•  Best Film
•  Best Music (Ennio Morricone)

European Film Awards

• Audience Award – Best Film (Giuseppe Tornatore)

Moscow Film Festival (Russia)

• Audience Award (Giuseppe Tornatore; tied with Molière)
• Silver St. George – Best Director (Giuseppe Tornatore)

Norwegian Film Festival (Norway)

• Audience Award (Giuseppe Tornatore)

Irena, a mysterious woman , moved to Italia and looked for jobs in a elegant  apartment building eagerly. Nobody knew her past. In others' eyes, she was full of secrets.  She started by cleaning the stairs. However, this was not her final determine. In order to approach one of families in the apartment, she made friend with Gina, a nanny worked for the family. Irena tripped Gina on purpose which result in nanny's paralysis, however, presumed to be accidental. Then, Irena was hired by the family as a new nanny to take Gina's place. Irena developed loving relationship with the family's child, Thea. But Irena was fired by the mother because she misunderstood that Irena wanted to get the family from her. Later, a unknown man appeared. He came here to find Irena. The truth surfaced gradually. The unknown man is the boss of a illegal organization. Irena had been abused both in body and mind by him, and forced to bear nine children, all sold to adoptive families. The last one child was Irena and her lover's . Irena's lover  was murdered and buried in a dump by the boss. Irena was very depressed and she was trying her best to find her youngest child. She stabbed the boss and stolened the money to look for her youngest child, whom she believed is Thea. Especially  she saw the adoption documents which convinced her that Thea was the youngest child. Unfortunately, the mother was killed by the boss of using a car accident. The boss wanted Irena returned the money but he died during a struggle with her.  Irena was ready to start a new life with Thea and Thea's father, however, the police suspected that Irena murdered Thea's mother and arrested her. Finally, all the truth emerged as I metioned before. To Irena's surprise, Thea was not her daughter. Although Irena acquired that, she still regarded Thea as daughter. She encouraged and feed Thea who stopped eating. Then Irena was put into jail. After many years, a beautiful young lady appeared the out of jail when Irena was released.

I like the fragment that Irena trained Thea in a strict way to make Thea acquire self-protection because Thea could not protect herself after falling down. It is generally acknowledged that the maternal love is the greatest in the world. Irena fell Thea again and again. The pain was not only on Thea's body but also into Irena's mind, perhaps more painful. Irena just wanted Thea learn how to stand up by herself. I was touched deeply. Therefore, I think the theme of the film is maternal love.
Meanwhile the film also ask us a serious question about surrogacy. As the film described, Irena was controled by  a illigal organization and the organization benefit from forcing Irena and other women to bear children. These women were deprived of being real mothers. They didn't stopping give birth to children until they have no fertility, but no one is their legal children. They were physically and emotionally abused.
The Unknown Woman is a psychological thriller mystery film, which appears horror sense frequently. The director formed the Irena's complete past by her intermittent recalling. This skill absorbed audience easily and made audience grow many different conjectures about the unknown woman because of curious.