SIFF Sighting: EVERY BLESSED DAY (drama; Italy)

Guido (Luca Marinelli) and Antonia (Thony) are a couple very much in love. He works the night shift as a porter in a hotel; she is stationed at the front desk for a rental car agency. What they want together is simple: a baby.

They make love enthusiastically and often. They test and re-test for positive results. They seek advice from friends and help from doctors. They try fertility treatments. Nothing works.

As all of this is going on, they begin to lose sight of what's magical about their connection and bond. They forget why they even want a child so badly. Their compatibility is simply a casualty of the failure that Antonia can't get past in her depths of depression.

Guido tries everything to comfort her and emphasize that whatever is preventing them from producing offspring doesn't matter as long as they have each other. But it's too sad for her, and that sadness consumes.

Their story is one that will ring true for thousands of couples who have both been successful and unsuccessful trying to start a family of their own. It will also feel familiar to couples who have endured painful breakups as a result of one key thing they can't get past.

In the midst of this scenario, both of the characters are quite likable and sympathy will come easy for their situation.

It unfortunately represents a slice of life that is all too common.

EVERY BLESSED DAY will screen at the 39th Annual Seattle International Film Festival on May 20  & 30. For tickets, click here.