Next Time the Fire

The study of semantics has convinced Amedio that things only have relative validity, and that everything is changeable. So it seems, because while on an Italian holiday with his family, he conceives the idea that his aging wife should assume the role of his mother, and his daughter, who has an infant son, should assume the role of his wife and lover. His real mother, an elderly invalid, dies just as this conceit begins to take form, and, inexplicably, the women placidly go along with this odd notion for a time, but eventually return to their former roles.

Directed by Fabio Carpi, Next Time the Fire leans on a strong ensemble — Jean Rochefort, Marie-Christine Barrault, Lila Kedrova — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1993.