Saturn in Opposition 2007

Drama

Box Office

$11M

Runtime

110 mins

Language

Italian

Directed by

Ferzan Özpetek

Made by

Medusa Film

Test your knowledge of Saturn in Opposition with our quiz!

Saturn in Opposition Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Saturn in Opposition (2007). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

In Rome, a tight-knit circle of friends faces the sudden loss of one of their own, testing the bonds that have held them together for years. The group中心 comprises two straight couples — Antonio Stefano Accorsi and Angelica Margherita Buy, and Roberto Filippo Timi with Neval Serra Yılmaz — plus a gay couple who are now separated, Sergio Ennio Fantastichini and Davide, a successful author. Fresh to the fold are Lorenzo Luca Argentero, Davide’s current lover, and Lorenzo’s friend Roberta Ambra Angiolini. Early on, another member enters the mix: Paolo Michelangelo Tommaso, an aspiring writer who is an acquaintance of Lorenzo and Roberta.

Although the friends care deeply for one another and spend a great deal of time together, tensions begin to surface beneath the surface, straining the dynamics of the three couples. Antonio and Angelica may appear as a perfect pair, yet their two young children struggle, and Antonio has been carrying on a secret affair with Laura Isabella Ferrari, a married woman with teenage children. Roberto feels like an outsider, even as Neval remains a central presence in the group. And while Davide and Lorenzo project the image of a stylish, affluent gay couple, Paolo’s arrival stirs undercurrents of competition and potential infidelity that start to test the group’s stability.

During a dinner at Davide’s apartment, Lorenzo suffers an aneurysm and slips into a coma from which he does not recover. His death shakes the core of the circle, exposing long-buried problems and fragmenting trust among friends. The tension escalates, and Davide comes close to despair, even to the edge of self-destruction. As grief and conflict collide, the friends eventually gather at Davide’s retreat in the mountains, overlooking the sea, to confront their losses, reckon with their choices, and come to terms with Lorenzo’s death and what the future holds for their intricate.

Once the storm passes, the group faces the painful truth of how love, loyalty, and jealousy can intertwine when destiny interrupts their carefully balanced lives. The memory of Lorenzo lingers as a catalyst for reevaluating relationships, and the retreat becomes a quiet, hopeful space where they can begin to rebuild trust, redefine boundaries, and seek a more honest path forward together.

Saturn in Opposition Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Saturn in Opposition (2007) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Founding the circle of friends in Rome

A group of very close friends living in Rome forms a tight-knit circle. The original two straight couples are Antonio with Angelica and Roberto with Neval, while Sergio and Davide—now separated—join as core members, along with Davide's lover Lorenzo, and newcomers Roberta and Paolo. The dynamics are warm but laced with unspoken tensions that will shape what happens next.

early in the film Rome, Italy

Antonio's secret affair

Antonio is secretly having an affair with Laura, a married woman with teenage children. The relationship unsettles his marriage to Angelica and casts a shadow over the group’s trust. Hidden desires begin to strain the facade of perfect coupledom within the circle.

before the dinner party Rome

Roberto feels like an outsider

Roberto often feels like an outsider since Neval is a core member of the group while he is not fully accepted. The quiet ache of exclusion adds fresh tension to the evolving dynamics. The fissures in the friendships start to become harder to ignore.

early stage Rome

Paolo joins the group and stirs tensions

Paolo, an aspiring writer linked to Lorenzo and Roberta, enters the circle and unsettles existing loyalties. His arrival highlights competitive undercurrents and unease about new romantic possibilities. Old bonds begin to feel tested as new pressures mount.

early–mid timeline Rome

Lorenzo becomes Davide's lover

Lorenzo enters as Davide's current lover, intensifying the group's romantic stakes. His presence deepens the attraction and jealousy already simmering behind the couples’ facades. The dynamic hints at fragility within the established relationships.

early in Lorenzo's involvement Davide's circle, Rome

The dinner party and Lorenzo's aneurysm

During a dinner party at Davide's apartment, Lorenzo suffers a sudden aneurysm and collapses. The celebration turns to shock as the group realizes something catastrophic has happened. The event instantly shifts the mood from convivial to grave.

during the dinner party Davide's apartment, Rome

Lorenzo falls into a coma and dies

Lorenzo slips into a coma from which he does not recover, and his death reverberates through the circle. The loss exposes the fragile foundations of the group and the true state of their relationships. The event marks a turning point from which nothing will be the same.

in the days after the dinner Hospital in Rome

Hidden problems surface after Lorenzo's death

With Lorenzo's passing, long-suppressed tensions resurface and threaten to fracture the group. Old resentments and secrets push members to confront what has been hidden behind their camaraderie. The crisis reveals how interdependent their bonds really are.

in the days following Lorenzo's death Rome

Davide's despair reaches a breaking point

Overwhelmed by grief and the disintegration of the group, Davide nearly takes his own life. The moment underscores how profoundly Lorenzo's absence unsettles him and tests his resilience. The others must confront the consequences of their shared losses.

in the aftermath Davide's home

A retreat to the mountains to heal

The friends decide to withdraw from the city and gather at Davide's retreat in the mountains overlooking the sea. They seek space to process the tragedy and to reassemble the bonds that bind them. The setting provides isolation for honest conversations and reckoning.

following Davide's crisis Davide's mountain retreat overlooking the sea

Confrontation and coming to terms

At the secluded retreat, they confront betrayals, truths, and the grief of Lorenzo's death. Emotions run high as hidden currents are named and acknowledged. By facing the past, they begin to soften the hard edges of their relationships.

during the retreat Davide's mountain retreat

Resolution and moving forward

The group reaches a fragile resolution, accepting Lorenzo's memory and choosing to move forward together with more honesty. The bonds remain, but they are redefined by the experience and the losses they endured. The story closes with a sense of cautious hope for the future.

ending Mountains retreat

Saturn in Opposition Characters

Explore all characters from Saturn in Opposition (2007). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Roberto (Filippo Timi)

A loyal member of the group and partner of Neval, Roberto often feels like an outsider among the closer ties within the circle. His sensitivity and steadiness help hold the group together even as tensions rise. He navigates belonging and authenticity within a tight-knit, evolving dynamic.

💙 Loyal 🧭 Outsider

Neval (Serra Yılmaz)

A core member whose calm presence anchors the group and provides a stabilizing force amid shifting loyalties. Neval's relationship with Roberto is central to the group’s emotional balance. He embodies quiet resilience as conflicts unfold around him.

🤝 Core member 💞 Friendship

Davide (Pierfrancesco Favino)

A successful author and member of the previously established gay couple with Sergio. His life of public success contrasts with underlying tensions as Lorenzo enters the circle. His apartment becomes a focal point for gatherings and the group's evolving dynamics.

💼 Status 💘 Romance

Lorenzo Marchetti (Luca Argentero)

Davide's current lover whose presence stirs new energy as well as hidden competition within the group. His arrival marks a turning point, and his sudden aneurysm plunges everyone into shock as he falls into a coma and does not recover.

❤️ Romance 🩺 Catalyst

Paolo (Benedetta Gergari)

An aspiring writer newly introduced to the group; his arrival unsettles the equilibrium and ignites hidden currents of competition and jealousy among the friends. He becomes a flashpoint for the group’s testing of loyalties.

📝 Aspiration 🔀 Catalyst

Roberta (Ambra Angiolini)

Lorenzo's friend and Davide's current lover, Roberta's entry heightens tensions around loyalty and desire. Her presence in the circle reveals new layers of motivation and complicates existing relationships.

🤝 Newcomer 💘 Desire

Antonio (Stefano Accorsi)

Part of a straight couple with Angelica, he appears to be part of a perfect unit, yet his two young children are dysfunctional. Antonio conceals a secret affair with Laura, which strains the couple and the wider group.

💑 Affair 🕯️ Secrets

Laura (Isabella Ferrari)

A married woman with teenage children who becomes involved with Antonio, complicating loyalties within the group and introducing a volatile dynamic to the relationships.

💞 Affair 🧭 Loyalty

Angelica (Margherita Buy)

Antonio's partner in the outwardly stable couple; their family life is strained by dysfunctional children, testing the limits of their relationship and the group's tolerance for discord.

👩‍👧‍👦 Family 💔 Strain

Saturn in Opposition Settings

Learn where and when Saturn in Opposition (2007) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Contemporary

Set in contemporary Rome, the film examines modern adult relationships, loyalty, and secrecy within a long-standing group of friends. The narrative unfolds through dinners, gatherings, and a climactic mountain retreat that exposes hidden desires and fractures. The tone reflects present-day urban life and its emotional complexities.

Location

Rome, Italy, Davide's mountain retreat overlooking the sea

The action unfolds in Rome, a sprawling, historic city that frames a tight circle of friends. Key scenes move between stylish city apartments and a remote retreat on the mountains overlooking the sea, where tensions come to a head. The setting emphasizes urban sophistication and intimate spaces where relationships unravel.

🏙️ Urban Rome 🗺️ Mountain retreat 🌊 Sea view

Saturn in Opposition Themes

Discover the main themes in Saturn in Opposition (2007). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💔

Love Triangle

The story centers on shifting loyalties as new connections enter the circle and old bonds are tested. Lorenzo and Paolo's entries intensify competition and jealousy within the group. Infidelity and desire push characters to confront what they want versus what they owe to friends.

🤝

Friendship

The film probes what holds a long-standing circle of friends together when secrets emerge. Trust and betrayal clash against years of shared experiences and support. Moments of vulnerability reveal both strength and fragility in their bonds.

⚰️

Mortality

Lorenzo's sudden aneurysm and subsequent coma disrupt the group's equilibrium and force acknowledgments of fragility. The crisis acts as a catalyst that compels characters to address repressed emotions. The march toward reconciliation is tempered by the reality of loss.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore the mobile app

Saturn in Opposition Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Saturn in Opposition (2007). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In contemporary Rome, a circle of thirty‑ and forty‑somethings drifts through a world where old certainties have dissolved. The city’s bustling streets and quiet cafés frame a mood that feels both intimate and unsettled, echoing the characters’ yearning for purpose amid the noise of modern life. The film moves with a measured, almost lyrical pace, inviting the audience to feel the subtle pulse of friendship, love, and the lingering question of what comes next when familiar foundations shift.

At the heart of the story are two long‑standing couples: Antonio and Angelica, whose partnership is tested by the demands of parenthood, and Roberto and Neval, who navigate their own place within the group. Alongside them, the stylish gay couple Sergio and Davide offers a glimpse of both successful collaboration and underlying fragility. Newcomers Lorenzo and his close friend Roberta bring fresh energy, while Paolo, an aspiring writer, arrives with his own ambitions and perspectives, quietly stirring the existing dynamics.

The ensemble’s chemistry is a tapestry of affection, rivalry, and unspoken histories. Beneath the laughter and shared meals, hidden secrets and personal aspirations ripple, suggesting that each connection carries its own weight. Parenthood, career pressures, and the desire for authentic intimacy create a delicate balance that feels both fragile and resilient. The camaraderie is palpable, yet hints of tension linger, promising that the group’s cohesion will be examined as they confront the inevitable disruptions of life.

Through warm, introspective scenes and a tone that blends melancholy with quiet hope, the film explores how friendships evolve when faced with loss and change. The characters are drawn together by a shared past, yet the narrative encourages them to reassess their bonds, confront lingering doubts, and seek a more honest path forward—leaving viewers with a lingering sense of both yearning and possibility.

Can’t find your movie? Request a summary here.

Movies with Similar Twists and Themes

Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.