Sexual obsession and forbidden passion is at the core of Open My Heart, a bold and potent tale from talented newcomer, director-actor-writer Giada Colagrande.

Caterina (Colagrande) is a shy 17-year-old who lives with her older sister, Maria, a prostitute. Sharing a modest apartment since their mother died 15 years earlier, the siblings' relationship is best described as unconventional: Maria acts as mother, lover and warden, virtually shutting her younger sister off from the rest of the world. But Caterina seemingly accepts her state of imprisonment When she ventures out of the apartment to attend a dance class, Maria follows as a chaperone, desperate to observe her every move. The taste of freedom afforded Caterina at the dance class leads to a friendship with Giovanni, the caretaker of the dance school. Enraged, and determined to maintain control of the private world she has created, Maria invites Giovanni back to the apartment in order to seduce and conquer. However, this is one time that Caterina will not simply lie back and let her domineering sister take charge.

Giada Colagrande is a guest of the Festival.

D/P/WS Giada Colagrande S Giada Colagrande, Francesco Di Pace L Italian w/English subtitles TD 35mm/Col/2002/97mins

Giada Colagrande was born in Pescara, Italy in 1975. Films include: Carnival (1997 short), Fetus-quattro porta morto (1998, short).

With support from The Italian Institute of Culture, Melbourne