The Ties by Daniele Luchetti, the opening film of the Venice International Film Festival 2020, follows a couple over a span of 30 years who cannot let go of each other even after separation and divorce. What lingers in the relationship between the two? Crossing between Rome and Naples, the present and the past, Luchetti unfolds an intimate story of a desolate home, a cat, and a secret box. The ongoing mystery continues until it reaches an unexpected ending. Director Luchetti says that “The Ties is a film about the hidden forces that bind us. It is not just the love that unites people, but also what is left behind when love is no more; rancor, shame, foolish attempts to keep promises…” The excellent performance of the four Italian actors, Alba Rohrwacher, Luigi Lo Cascio, Laura Morante, and Silvio Orlando, add a sense of realism to the story. (SEO Seunghee)