Secret Passage (film)
Encyclopedia
Secret Passage is a 2004 movie directed and written by Ademir Kenovic
. The movie stars John Turturro
, Katherine Borowitz, Tara Fitzgerald
, and Hannah Taylor-Gordon
. In the United Kingdom
, the movie is mostly known as The Lion's Mouth.
. Jews
are being chased everywhere. They have two choices: either to convert or to face trial and execution. Isabel (Katherine Borowitz), and Clara (Tara Fitzgerald
) are growing up with terror. Although forcibly baptized, the sisters are chased through Christendom until they arrive in Venice
. In Venice, Isabel organizes a secret passage in order to give refuge to the refugees who were fleeing away in the fear of the Inquisition. Isabel decides that, in order to be safe, her family must flee to Istanbul
, the only place where Jews are not hated. But Clara refuses to leave, because she is in love with a Venetian
named Paulo Zane (John Turturro
). When Isabel somewhat tries to force Clara to move to Istanbul, Clara gets furious at the former and is almost ready to break all family ties with Isabel. In these battles of misunderstandings, Clara's young daughter Victoria (Hannah Taylor-Gordon
) is trapped, who finds that she is about to be married into the same faith that murdered her own father.
Ademir Kenovic
Ademir Kenović is a Bosnian film director and producer. He graduated from the University of Sarajevo in 1969 and then studied film, English literature and art at the Denison University in Ohio, graduating in 1989. His films include Kuduz and It's Hard to be Nice...
. The movie stars John Turturro
John Turturro
John Michael Turturro is an American actor, writer and director known for his roles in the films Do the Right Thing , Miller's Crossing , Barton Fink , Quiz Show , The Big Lebowski , O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the Transformers film series...
, Katherine Borowitz, Tara Fitzgerald
Tara Fitzgerald
Tara Anne Cassandra Fitzgerald is an English actress who has appeared in feature films, television, radio and the stage....
, and Hannah Taylor-Gordon
Hannah Taylor-Gordon
Hannah Taylor-Gordon is an English actress. She made her film debut in the 1993 movie The House of the Spirits. She is known for her role as Anne Frank in the TV miniseries Anne Frank: The Whole Story for which she received both an Emmy and a Golden Globe nomination...
. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the movie is mostly known as The Lion's Mouth.
Plot
The movie starts in 1492, in SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
are being chased everywhere. They have two choices: either to convert or to face trial and execution. Isabel (Katherine Borowitz), and Clara (Tara Fitzgerald
Tara Fitzgerald
Tara Anne Cassandra Fitzgerald is an English actress who has appeared in feature films, television, radio and the stage....
) are growing up with terror. Although forcibly baptized, the sisters are chased through Christendom until they arrive in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. In Venice, Isabel organizes a secret passage in order to give refuge to the refugees who were fleeing away in the fear of the Inquisition. Isabel decides that, in order to be safe, her family must flee to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, the only place where Jews are not hated. But Clara refuses to leave, because she is in love with a Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
named Paulo Zane (John Turturro
John Turturro
John Michael Turturro is an American actor, writer and director known for his roles in the films Do the Right Thing , Miller's Crossing , Barton Fink , Quiz Show , The Big Lebowski , O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the Transformers film series...
). When Isabel somewhat tries to force Clara to move to Istanbul, Clara gets furious at the former and is almost ready to break all family ties with Isabel. In these battles of misunderstandings, Clara's young daughter Victoria (Hannah Taylor-Gordon
Hannah Taylor-Gordon
Hannah Taylor-Gordon is an English actress. She made her film debut in the 1993 movie The House of the Spirits. She is known for her role as Anne Frank in the TV miniseries Anne Frank: The Whole Story for which she received both an Emmy and a Golden Globe nomination...
) is trapped, who finds that she is about to be married into the same faith that murdered her own father.
Cast
- John TurturroJohn TurturroJohn Michael Turturro is an American actor, writer and director known for his roles in the films Do the Right Thing , Miller's Crossing , Barton Fink , Quiz Show , The Big Lebowski , O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the Transformers film series...
as Paulo Zane - Tara FitzgeraldTara FitzgeraldTara Anne Cassandra Fitzgerald is an English actress who has appeared in feature films, television, radio and the stage....
as Clara - Katherine Borowitz as Isabel
- Anton RodgersAnton RodgersAnton Rodgers was an English actor and occasional director. He performed on stage, in film and in television dramas and sitcoms.-Life and career:...
as Foscari - Hannah Taylor-GordonHannah Taylor-GordonHannah Taylor-Gordon is an English actress. She made her film debut in the 1993 movie The House of the Spirits. She is known for her role as Anne Frank in the TV miniseries Anne Frank: The Whole Story for which she received both an Emmy and a Golden Globe nomination...
as Victoria - Ronald PickupRonald Pickup-Life and career:Pickup was born in Chester, England, the son of Daisy and Eric Pickup, who was a lecturer. Pickup was educated at The King's School, Chester, trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and became an Associate Member of RADA.His television work began with an episode...
as De Monte - Richard Harrigton as Joseph
- Seymour Matthews as Ruben
- Marc PickeringMarc PickeringMarc Pickering is an English stage, film and television actor who appeared in Sleepy Hollow and Calendar Girls.-Biography:Pickering was first attracted to acting aged 8 when he saw an audition sign for The Sound of Music and said to his father "I wouldn't mind doing that". Although he did not get...
as Andrea Zane - Carmen Sorrenti as Francesca
- Adam Kotz as Inquisitor
- Alassandra Costanzo as Maid Benviniste