October 4, 2002

By Veronica Mixon

Heaven is a strange film. It's a strange love story but it does possess two remarkable performances by Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi.

The film opens with an angry woman, Philippa (Blanchett) marching off to a towering office building to planet a bomb in a Mr. Vendice's (Stefano Santospago) office before calling the police. Determined and unafraid, Philippa cleverly lures his secretary out of the office and walks away. Little does she realize that a cleaning lady picks up the bomb during her routine rounds and when she enters an elevator with a man and his two daughters, they become the victims of the explosion.

The police walk Philippa in her bed at home and haul her off to jail. It is only when she's interrogated that she learns that four innocent people have died instead of her Mr. Vendice, who she claims is a major drug trafficker. Philippa is a teacher living in Italy with her husband who has died as a result of a drug overdose. Furthermore, she's watched too many of her young students succumb to the lure of drugs. The police listen but they don't believe her. They are convinced that she is working for a terrorist organization and it's only her powerfully emotional breakdown at hearing the news of the murders that elicits some reaction from them.

The young interpreter, Filippo (Ribisi) who volunteers to translate her English is especially moved. In fact, when Philippa faints, Filippo finds himself instantly drawn to her bodily warmth and fragility. He questions his young brother who attends Philippa's classes and adores her. Suddenly, without any qualms, Filippo is assured of her true 'innocence' and decides to help her escape.

Of course, Mr. Vendice is in league with the police and they are onto Filippo's plans from the beginning but that doesn't matter. It seems that a higher power is in control here - despite of the fact that Philippa insists on carrying out her mission.

The last half of Heaven seems like a dream. The couple manages to escape into the country and Filippo's father, a former cop himself, even helps them. Apparently, the fact that his son has fallen in love seems to be more important than his breaking the law.

Heaven is a weird philosophical dream about love of humanity being so important that even committing murder to protect it is somehow right. What's truly astonishing about the film, besides the breathtaking scenery, is the illuminating performances of Blanchett and Ribisi.

Blanchett, best known from The Gift, The Talented Mr. Ripley, is always electrifying and emotional. But, Ribisi (The Boiler Room) appears grown up next to her womanliness and his gentle, doleful manner is even sensual. Heaven may not be to everyone's taste but nevertheless, it makes a strong statement about love.