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A distinctly deglamourised Penélope Cruz gives one of her bravest performances as a destitute woman who has an affair with a married doctor in Italian melodrama Don't Move. It's a shame then, that it's not her emotions the film centres on but those of the quack in question, co-writer, director and actor Sergio Castellitto. The road to his redemption is one that's long, winding and often morally dubious. Ultimately the movie itself is only saved by technical skill and thespian talent.

The story opens with a near-fatal road accident involving the 15-year-old daughter of top surgeon Timoteo (Castellitto). As his colleagues battle to save the girl's life, Timoteo flashes back to the sweltering summer he met Italia (Cruz), a tramp living on a building site. The movie takes a long time to recover from the unsettling violence of the pair's first sexual encounter. Even as Timoteo expresses regret for his behaviour and the relationship grows more tender and loving, it's never possible to extend our fullest sympathy to him.

"THIS IS CRUZ'S FILM"

Nonetheless, the quiet - and occasionally not so quiet - intensity of Castellitto's performance manages to impress. His direction's none too shabby either, flexibly flipping between different time frames and painting strikingly sombre visuals - pity about the dreadful songs, though. But this is Cruz's film: bow-legged and gap-toothed, she's wholly persuasive as someone who's been used, abused and left in the gutter her entire life. But beside the grime there's dignity and pathos too; thanks to her, Don't Move does move.

In Italian with English subtitles.