
Throughoutits77minutes,thefilmneveronceleavesthesmallMilanapartmentofBiancaDolceMiele,adarksafespaceilluminatedbythewarmlightoftheoccasionalcandle,withobjectsarrangedwithritualisticintentionandablackcatalwaysontheroam.Amapoftheheavenshangsabovethebed,theoutsideworldisaccessedviatelephone.“I’malwayshere,anytime,”shepromisesherclientsinadeep,throatyvoice.“Givemehalfanhourtoputonsomethingsexyforyou.”Bianca’sappearancesinthisfilmareself-determinedandwithstandanykindofnormativegaze.ThepuntersandfriendswhocomecallingeachbringtheirownunderstandingofBiancaandtheroleofherprofession:onequotesfromtheBible,anothersingsamurderballad,athirdsetsupapristinewhitetableuponherambiguouslygenderedbody,fromwhichheeatstinnedmeat.“Tendernessalwaystellsofnewthings,”isonewaytotranslatethelinefromSandroPennathatservesasthefilm’smotto.ForBianca’sinvitationintoherworldisprimarilydirectedatthosewhocanonlytelltheirstoriesinthatspace.