Every relationship comes with its own set of secrets, whether it’s between married couples or boyfriends and girlfriends. These hidden truths, from an affair or secret meetings with an ex to risky financial decisions, can cause severe damage if they ever come to light. Depending on how big the lie is and how long it’s been kept under wraps, it could destroy the relationship or at least drive a wedge between the couple and eventually turn things sour. This is precisely what Paolo Donatello, the director of “Perfect Strangers” (Original Title: Perfetti sconosciuti), set out to explore in his 2016 film, which was a big hit when it came out. While it may not be the greatest Italian film of all time, it has its fair share of intense, memorable moments.
Perfect Strangers (Perfetti sconosciuti, 2016) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
What game do the guests agree to play?
As the opening suggests, “Perfect Strangers” doesn’t have a mind-bending, rocket-science plot. It’s pretty straightforward. Rocco and his wife are hosting a dinner party for their close friends, making it clear that skipping out will not be entertained. Everyone’s expected to show up with no excuses. On a beautiful evening, the group gathers at Rocco’s place to enjoy some delicious food and reminisce about old times.
The guest list includes Peppe, Cosimo, Lele, Binaca, and Carlotta, with Rocco and his wife Eva playing the perfect hosts. Peppe was supposed to bring his new girlfriend, Lucio. But she had to bail at the last minute, claiming she suddenly caught a fever. This bums everyone out as they are excited to finally meet the woman who stole Peppe’s heart.
During dinner, the group talks about a relative who divorced after his wife looked through his text messages. She found chats with other women. This sparks a conversation about their own lives. Some joke that many couples would split up if they went through each other’s phones. When Carlotta mentions that her husband Lele never lets her touch his phone, Lele confidently puts it on the table, daring her to check it.
Rocco joins in, claiming he has nothing to hide from his wife. That’s when Evae suggests a game where everyone puts their phones on the table. Throughout dinner, any texts, WhatsApp messages, or calls that come in will be shared with the whole group. What could go wrong, Eva says?
What secrets will be unveiled in this tense game of phones?
Peppe has no problem playing the game, but the others are hesitant. Still, they all eventually put their phones on the table and kick off the game. The first phone to ring is Cosimo’s, and the message reads, “I want your body.” Naturally, Binaca asks him about it. Cosimo brushes it off, saying he has no idea who the sender is and it must be a wrong number. Later on, it’s revealed to be a prank text from Rocco. The whole group bursts into laughter. Rocco’s aim was to lighten the mood and make everyone feel more at ease with the game.
Peppe’s phone rings and the group learns that even though he’s got a job offer from a private school in Enzio, he’s not thrilled about taking it. Then, Eva gets a call from her father, and it’s revealed she’s planning to get a breast augmentation. This surprises everyone, considering Eva is a therapist who preaches self-acceptance and advises her clients not to chase after perfection.
How long can they keep their secrets hidden before everything falls apart?
Up to this point, things have been relatively light, but there’s an obvious tension coming from Lele. Turns out, every night at 10 PM, a woman sends him explicit pictures, so he’s sweating bullets. To dodge trouble, Lele convinces Peppe to swap phones with him. Though Peppe is hesitant, he agrees. Lele’s not the only one with secrets. His wife Carlotta’s hiding something, too. She recently visited an old age home with a friend, which she brushes off as nothing. However, Lele doesn’t believe her and suspects Carlotta secretly plans to send his mother into a care home.
Things heat up for Bian when Cosimo spots an explicit text from her ex. Luckily, Binaca quickly clears up the misunderstanding, explaining the message was meant for someone else, not her. As the film approaches its climax, the tension ramps up, and the cracks in everyone’s relationships start to show. The fallout from this so-called “game” begins to break the group, revealing how much they’ve been hiding from each other all along.
How did the Dinner end in disaster?
Lucio texts Peppe again, and the message hints that “Lucio, “who turns out to be a man, might be in a relationship with Peppe. Since Peppe and Lele have swapped phones, everyone thinks the messages are for Lele. Lele tries to smooth things down by claiming Lucio is just a co-worker obsessed with him, but when the next text says, “I remember your kisses,” things get much more complicated to explain. Now, everyone, including Carlotta, starts thinking Lele might be gay.
Cosimo’s attitude shifts, and he feels hurt that Lele never told him about it, thinking he’s been keeping a huge secret. Soon, it turns out Carlotta isn’t as innocent as she seems either. She’s been talking with some man online who’s been asking her explicit questions. The tension boils over, leading to an argument between her and Lele, which ends with Carlotta storming out of the room.
Eventually, Peppe comes clean and admits that he’s the one who’s gay. He’s shocked by his friends’ reactions and their outdated views on homosexuality. He reveals that the real reason his teaching contract wasn’t renewed was because of his sexuality. Peppe also makes it clear that he no longer has any intention of introducing Lucio to the group, fearing they’ll mock him or hurt his feelings just because he’s gay.
Meanwhile, Bianca discovers that Cosimo has been buying jewelry for another woman. It’s revealed that Cosimo has been having an affair with a woman named Marika, who might even be pregnant. This hits Bianca hard, especially since she’s been struggling to get pregnant herself. Heartbroken, she breaks down in tears, and by the end of the dinner, she leaves her wedding ring on the table, making it clear that her marriage is over.
Perfect Strangers (Perfetti sconosciuti, 2016) Movie Ending Explained:
What does the “Perfect Strangers” ending mean?
As the film wraps up, everyone walks out as if nothing happened—like the game never happened. It’s possible they all refused to play, and what we saw was just a glimpse of what could’ve gone down if they had chosen to go through with it. There’s also another theory suggesting that maybe the couples used the game as an excuse to air out their secrets, which they already knew but hadn’t openly discussed. However, the first idea seems to make more sense—that they said “no” to the game, and everything we saw was a “what if” scenario.
