The Unknown Woman
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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La sconosciuta or The unknown is a 2006 Italian thriller film directed by Giuseppe Tornatore with strong social themes of exploitation and "white slavery".
Plot
Former Ukranian prostitute Irena (Kseniya Rappoport) has given birth to many children, which were all taken away from her by her pimp who has sold them for adoption. She has tried to kill her pimp, stole his money (which she now carries around all the time), and fled to Italy. In order to be with the young girl Thea (Clara Dossena), who may be her youngest child, she throws Thea's nanny Gina (Piera Degli Esposti) from the stairs, so that she can get that job. Irena manages to open the safe in the house and finds documents that strengthen her belief that Thea is her daughter. She teaches the girl to fall without hurting herself too much, and more generally to be tough. She is pleased to see that the girl fights back when bullied by other children. Irena visits Gina and apolizes for what she has done to her, but lets her sign checks without Gina realizing what that is about.
