OPEN MY HEART aka APRIMI IL CUORE

Year: 2003
USA: Strand Releasing
Cast: Giada Colagrande, Natalie Cristani, Claudio Botosso, Andrea Fogli, Tonino De Bernardi, Filippo Timi, Luisa Merloni, Stefania Marchisio, Gianpiero Casaceli, Ciro Giorgini, Paulo Cesar Saraceni, Francesco Di Pace, Bice Gasparrini
Director: Giada Colagrande
Country: Italy
Language: Italian (English subtitles)
USA: 93 mins
USA Release Date: 17 December 2004 (Limited Release)
US Distributor

Synopsis

Maria (Natalie Cristani) is a prostitute who has a very obsessive relationship with her younger teenage sister, Caterina (Giada Colagrande). Maria behaves as Caterina's mother, sister and lover and she only lets her out of the apartment to go to dance classes. Caterina loves Maria. She happily accepts her state of "imprisonment" until the day she falls in love with Giovanni (Claudio Botosso), the caretaker of the dance school. When Maria discovers their affair she develops a homicidal fury.

Directed, co-written and starring Giada Colagrande in her first feature film.