Shelter Me

Running time: 100 mins

Can a love affair survive the intrusion of an illegal teenage immigrant?

Veteran Italian director Marco Simon Puccioni explores two very topical, universal themes: the struggle to recognize gay couples and immigration in this subtle, well-crafted drama starring Maria de Medeiros (Pulp Fiction, Henry and June).

Maria plays Anna, an heiress to a shoe manufacturing business who is in love with Mara, a factory worker. After returning from a romantic vacation in Tunisia, they discover that Anis, an Arab teenager, has illegally stowed away in their trunk. Broke and alone, Anis is ?adopted? by Anna who shelters and employs him. Initially, Mara is distrustful of Anis and he struggles to understand why two women sleep together. Eventually, their makeshift family settles into a peaceful domestic rhythm that is torn apart when Anis becomes the object of Mara?s desire.

Grand Prix Winner 2007 Annecy Italian Cinema Festival

Pam Kelly