Do You Like Hitchcock? (2005) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Giulio is a film student who becomes fixated on his neighbor Sasha, spying on her and using Fritz Lang films as research for his thesis. His curiosity escalates into a dangerous theory about matching crimes, mirroring the Hitchcock film Strangers on a Train. He suffers a fractured ankle during a risky rooftop escape and becomes increasingly entangled in suspicion and fear.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Giulio borrowing classic thriller films, hinting at his obsession with crime narratives.

• giulio
• film student
• protagonist
• elio germano
• voyeur

Federica is the real killer who hides in plain sight by wearing disguises. She manipulates and blackmails her boss, who blackmails her for sexual favors over money she stole from a client. She is the central figure in the mystery, responsible for killing Sasha's mother with a brass pestle and attempting to harm Giulio. Her rooftop pursuit ends with police arrest.

• federica
• killer
• antagonist
• chiara conti
• disguise

Sasha Zerboni is Giulio's attractive neighbor who becomes the object of his voyeuristic fascination. She is an only child with a wealthy widow mother, whose murder catalyzes the central mystery. Her actions become entangled with crime as Giulio pieces together clues about her and Federica. She is ultimately arrested as the investigation unfolds.

• sasha zerboni
• neighbor
• victim
• elisabetta rocchetti

The movie explores three interconnected themes: Obsession, where Giulio's fixation on Sasha drives him from researcher to stalker; Secrets, including hidden identities, bank statements, and disguises that fuel a web of manipulation; and Violence, depicted as a consequence of deceit and competition for power, with murders revealing true character intents.

• themes
• obsession
• secrets
• violence
• manipulation

Giulio's thesis project centers on Fritz Lang films, but his theory about matching crimes directly mirrors Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train. The film deliberately adopts a Hitchcockian premise of suspicion, paranoia, and the blurring of perception and reality. The entire narrative structure pays homage to classic thriller conventions.

• hitchcock
• strangers on a train
• fritz lang
• thriller
• homage

The movie is set in an Italian city, with action taking place in apartment buildings, neighborhoods, and urban locations including a video store. The setting features ordinary domestic spaces that become stages for crime, contrasting routine life with the unfolding mystery.

• setting
• italy
• city
• location
• apartment

The movie appears to be set in contemporary times, indicated by references to a video store, university thesis projects, and modern investigative procedures. While no specific year is stated, the technological and social context suggests a modern-day setting.

• time period
• contemporary
• modern
• era

Arianna is Giulio's girlfriend, initially skeptical of his Strangers on a Train theory but eventually partners with him in the investigation. She confronts Federica, chases leads, and supports Giulio as the danger escalates, becoming an active participant in unraveling the mystery.

• arianna
• girlfriend
• cristina brondo
• partner
• investigation

The ending resolves the immediate threat with Federica's arrest, but reframes violence as a consequence of manipulation. However, it remains ambiguous with the arrival of a new neighbor, hinting at a cyclical nature of obsession. This suggests Giulio's pattern of fascination may begin again, leaving unresolved tension.

• ending
• ambiguity
• cycle
• obsession
• resolution

Violence is depicted as a consequence of deceit and competition for power rather than random acts. Key moments include the intruder killing Sasha's mother with a brass pestle, a failed attempt on Giulio's life, and a final rooftop confrontation. These violent moments reveal characters' true intentions and drive the investigation forward.

• violence
• murder
• crime
• consequences

Giulio is motivated by a combination of academic curiosity and voyeuristic fascination. His film student background drives him to interpret ordinary encounters as clues, turning his thesis project into a dangerous game of surveillance. The line between researcher and stalker blurs as his obsession pushes him to piece together motives from rumors and observations.

• motivation
• obsession
• investigation
• surveillance
• thesis