Thanks for the replies and discussion (and kind words), guys.
Winjer, I can totally see how you and others can feel that way. The film asks A LOT of the viewer, and if anything hits wrong, anything at all, the illusion is shattered and the film is derailed. I rented Princess and the Warrior again while I was writing this, as they almost identical thematically, to see what that film did that was so convincing and where this one came up a bit short. For me, as superlatively as Cate Blanchett performed in the interrogation scene, there is another pivotal scene in the third act, where her feelings are challenged by Fillipo's father, that doesn't come off as well. That is the one thing that made me squint a little bit at the way the movie ended...I wasn't 100% convinced of her intentions. In Princess and the Warrior, Benno Furmann benefits from a neat visual device to signify, without a doubt, his change of heart.
But still, I can see certain audiences revolting, and it's difficult to let a movie sink in when that is happening. This is the same reason I can't wait for Solaris to hit DVD, as I could hardly concentrate on the screen with all the people flocking to the exits. A quiet, contemplative movie like this one is best viewed in the living room, on the couch, with the kids in bed.
Incidentally, I also wrote the South Park, season 2 DVD review.
