a film by Annette Apon

(synopsis)

A hotel room in Rome.
After the previous guests leave, the renowned fashion photographer Diane moves into the room. She is in Rome to shoot an exclusive fashion series; a commission she also took on in order to meet up with an old lover.
As a result the film is actually a quest: Diana searches Rome for Giovanni.
However we don't see any of this, because the camera remains in her hotel room. The scenes she spends in her room, her telephone calls, evoke a picture of her experiences outside the room and the way she comes to terms with them emotionally.
The other part of the film comes to life when Diana leaves the room. Then other people keep appearing who repeatedly take possession of her things and the room. Firstly the hotel staff, chamber maids and a bellboy who develops a pathetic relationship with the absent Diana.
But other hotel guests also come into the room. An older woman and her young lover who are fleeing from her furious husband and use Diana's room as their escape route. A severely wounded gangster seeks shelter there. During his stay, he leaves a trail of destruction.
When Diana finally returns and is confronted by the mess he's left, that puts an end to her illusions about her stay in Rome.
Blinded by her obsessional quest, she does not see the note that Giovanni has left for her, after sitting and waiting a long time for her in vain.
Desperate, Diana leaves the hotel.
The chambermaid clears up the mess: an empty room is left behind.

script/directing: Annette Apon
camera: Theo van de Sande
sound: Erik Langhout
art-direction: Hadassah Kann
editor: Ton de Graaff
producer: René Scholten
production manager: Suzanne van Voorst

with:
Truus te Selle

and:
Guusje van Tilborgh, Edwin de Vries, Petra Laseur, Gijs de Lange, Frank Groothof, Rose Thesing, Rachel Haug, Anton van Geffen, Pierre Bokma, Joost Prinsen, Victor van Swaay

1983
featurefilm, color, 35 mm, 88 min.

<filmography