Genre: Drama

Language: Italian with English Subtitles

Director: Roberto Faenza

Cast: Margherita Buy, Luca Zingaretti, Goran Bregovic, Alessia Goria, Gea Lionello

Released: 2005

Duration: 96 Minutes

Rating: M contains violence, offensive language and sex scenes

Distribution: Palace Films

Four-time David di Donatello winner Margherita Buy (‘Ignorant fairies’) confirms her standing as one of Italy's finest leading ladies in ‘The days of abandonment’, with her blistering and forceful portrayal of a woman whose self esteem and sense of femininity is put to the ultimate test.

The attractive, 40-ish Olga (Buy) believes she has a solid relationship with her successful engineer-husband Mario, played by Luca Zingaretti (‘Into the light’), even toying with the idea of having a third child with him. The equilibrium of her complacent marriage is shattered however, when Mario unexpectedly announces he's moving out because he feels his life lacks meaning and he needs to be alone.

This event, and the ensuing discovery that he has in fact left her for a younger woman initiates the degradation of Olga's identity and self-worth, releasing complex feelings and leading to irrational and destructive behaviour as she falls to pieces.

Returning to the personal territory of female angst, Roberto Faenza's moving screen version of Elena Ferrante's novel by the same name earned him a Golden Lion nomination at the Venice Film Festival 2006 and Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Buy) at the Italian Golden Globes 2006.

“Margarita Buy brings one of her finest performances to ‘The Days of Abandonment’.” Deborah Young, Variety