It is so obvious that Don't Move is directed by a male director - not only that, he decides to take the lead opposite Penelope Cruz, knowing that his character will have a passionately torrid affair with her. A tough assignment, but someone's got to do it.

The plot is pure male fantasyland. A surgeon, Dr Timoteo Rossi (Castelitto), is working at the hospital. On the operating table is his daughter, who has had a serious accident, having been thrown off her scooter. Rossi is told he better not do the operation and whilst he's in the next room, remembers an affair he had one long hot summer.

He has a loving, attractive, supportive, easygoing wife, but needs some help one day on a dusty road and appeals to a poor, dishevelled young woman, Italia (Cruz), wanting to use her telephone. Of course, it doesn't end there. Next day, he's back, only this time it's not the phone he's after. Instead, he wants to take Italia on the living-room floor in a rough encounter that's close to rape. Some would say it is. Does Italia report him? Naturally, not. Instead, within a few days, she's looking forward to his clumsy, selfish attempts at sex and even making him snacks afterwards.

Where will the affair end? Do you care? I did care about Rossi's wife. She does nothing to warrant her husband's errant behaviour and that is what makes the story seemingly inexplicable. You don't see what Italia offers the surgeon that his own wife cannot, unless the point is that what he's really after is illicit sex on the side.

Yes, there's a twist in the tale, but frankly you hoped there might be. It is well made, but wholly indulgent of that common male whim of a guy wanting to have his cake and eat it. Perhaps, it was wishful thinking for Castelitto to direct a film like this. Certainly, he struck lucky securing Cruz to star opposite him.