I’ve been checking out a lot of movies based on books recently, and this is the latest. It's an English novel that’s become an Italian film, and apparently some changes were made to give it an Italian feel. Honestly, if you know who directed it, you already know they were the right person for the job, and they really delivered. They assembled a fantastic cast and got great performances out of everyone involved. The story centers around two families, with events unfolding in different timelines after a cyclist is hit by a car on Christmas Eve. The central question becomes: how did this happen? And who was responsible? Characters from both families start to reveal their involvement that night, exposing what each person did. Dino, a realtor, sees a chance for significant financial gain and invests heavily, but the subsequent recession forces him to confront harsh realities that put his life at risk. Carla, the wife of a very wealthy man, provides financial backing to a struggling company; however, she’s eventually forced to withdraw her support as her husband's business falters. Serena, Dino’s daughter, and Massimiliano, Carla’s son, are close friends. Their story unfolds alongside each other, with one finding love while the other experiences heartbreak. Once these three storylines converge, the final chapter reveals the truth with a surprising twist. ‘‘I know it does not look much like you, I tend to make things uglier.’’ The narrative is presented in layers, divided into four chapters. Events within specific timeframes are revisited through different characters’ perspectives and camera angles until the truth emerges in the final chapter. The initial chapter felt a bit disorienting as the story was getting started, but it quickly moves on to the core themes. Once you get past that first part, the subsequent segments draw you in with suspense and make you try to guess what might happen next. It’s hard to anticipate because the characters connected to the incident aren't introduced until about two-thirds of the way through the film, meaning the twist comes relatively late, which was quite good. Every character who appears in the different episodes is remarkable. There were moments when a storyline felt disconnected from the others and focused solely on that particular narrative thread, but the central event ultimately ties everything together. I enjoyed all the main characters, but Serena’s performance really stood out; she's a new face, and I think she has a bright future ahead of her. (Wow, she's pretty—I hope I'm not the only one who thinks that.) This is easily one of the best neo-noir films I’ve seen recently. If someone asked me for a recommendation, I would absolutely suggest it. 8/10

Source on TMDB