Italia, asking her forgiveness for all the pain he caused. After reacting violently initially, Italia tells him that she knew now why he could not leave his wife and that she understood. He also learns from her that she would be moving to another town shortly. Next morning, Timoteo offers to drive Italia down to her new town. During the journey, his feelings for Italia grow stronger and he confesses his desire to marry and settle down with her in the new town. While having dinner, Timoteo marries himself off to Italia and refers to her as "my wife" while speaking to a waitress. That night, he is woken by Italia's screams as she is gripped by unbearable pain in her abdomen. She is rushed to the local hospital, where an ultrasound reveals her belly to be full of blood, indicating a botched abortion. A desperate Timoteo then proceeds to operate on Italia. She dies soon after briefly regaining consciousness. His recollections are interrupted by a nurse who informs him that his daughter's condition has stabilised. He then visits her with his wife. The lady who was shown in the beginning, sitting with her back towards Timoteo is reflected in her hand mirror. She appears to be smiling and has resemblance to Italia. In the final act, a relieved Timoteo takes out Italia's red shoe, which she had lost on the way to the hospital the day she died, and that the funeral company had refused to put in the closed coffin, and which he had carefully preserved, and kisses it as a gesture of thanks. He takes the single shoe out of his locker room and places it on the exact spot where he had imagined seeing the woman resembling Italia, as if he is returning Italia's shoes to her. Cast Penélope Cruz as Italia Sergio Castellitto as Timoteo Claudia Gerini as Elsa Marco Giallini as Manlio Angela Finocchiaro as Ada Pietro De Silva as Alfredo Elena Perino as Angela Vittoria Piancastelli as Raffaella Renato Marchetti as Pino Reception Penélope Cruz, who learned Italian for the role, earned critical acclaim for her performance and won the David di Donatello. She was also awarded the European Film Award for the Best Actress for the film in 2004. References External links 2004 films 2004 drama films Films set in Italy Films based on Italian novels Films directed by Sergio Castellitto Films