For his feature-film debut, writer-director Edoardo Ponti landed his mother, Sophia Loren, to star in a moving drama about three disparate angst-ridden women. Besides an affecting performance by Loren, Ponti's production is also blessed with a stellar international cast that includes Mira Sorvino, Gerard Depardieu, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Malcolm McDowell and Wendy Crewson. Deborah Kara Unger.