Prof. Mori, a Roman physician, finds himself in a quandary. His beautiful wife Vittoria has given birth to a boy, but she is suffering from what appears to be postpartum depression, something that might have been a baffling situation for the doctor that specializes in mental diseases. The times in which the action takes place do not help the problem. It is the beginning of the XX century and this is not probably something that was well known then.
The alternative is to find a wet nurse to breast feed the baby. Mori goes to a nearby town where he selects Annetta, a peasant girl. The baby who is not being fed properly, immediately takes to the new arrival as though she were his real mother. Vittoria envies the woman, but she cannot bring herself to show any emotions.
Annetta, whose husband is serving time in prison, is an intelligent girl who cannot read, or write. Her ambition is to learn. That way she can correspond with her man. When she mentions her desire to Vittoria, her employer appears receptive to the idea, but it is her husband who takes the time to teach Annetta. There is also a mysterious side to Annetta no one knows. She often goes out of the house on the sly. When questioned, Annetta answers she attends services at a church nearby. It takes a while, but Prof. Mori gets to the bottom of the problem. Annetta has a secret reason for sneaking out.
Marco Bellocchio, the Italian director, adapted with Daniella Ceselli, the original story by Luigi Pirandello and brought it to the screen. Not having seen it, it was a nice surprise when we found it on a cable channel recently. Mr. Bellocchio, one of the most prolific Italian creators, shows an understanding for the material.
The cast is excellent. Fabrizio Bentivoglio plays the doctor that wants to have his son to live after the total indifference shown by his mother. Valeria Bruni Tedeschi makes an enigmatic Vittoria, a mother that cannot do for her son what comes naturally. Maya Sansa makes a good impression with her take on Annetta.