Malèna
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Malèna | |
|---|---|
 film poster |
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| Directed by | Giuseppe Tornatore |
| Produced by | Harvey Weinstein |
| Written by | Giuseppe Tornatore, Luciano Vincenzoni |
| Starring | Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
| Release date(s) | October 27, 2000 |
| Running time | 109 Min Italy Director's Cut 92 Min USA Edited |
| Language | Italian |
| IMDb profile | |
Malèna is a 2000 Italian drama/romance film starring Monica Bellucci and Giuseppe Sulfaro. It was directed and written by Giuseppe Tornatore from a story by Luciano Vincenzoni.
Criticised for its depiction of teenage sexuality, as well as the paucity of dialogue, Malèna was successful in Europe, but the movie itself was altered by its North American distribution company Fine Line Features, and several scenes were cut. The film did poorly in few United States movie theatres, despite good reviews. As of 2005, only the edited version is available for commercial purchase on DVD in North America.
The film nonetheless is credited with officially introducing Anglophone audiences to Italian actress Bellucci (whose career had previously been limited to European films), who went on to make a number of high-profile American film appearances.
The score by Ennio Morricone was nominated for an Academy Award.
Contents |
[edit] Main cast
- Monica Bellucci as Malena Scordia
- Giuseppe Sulfaro as Renato Amoroso
- Luciano Federico as Renato's Father
- Matilde Piana as Renato's Mother
[edit] Plot summary
Set in 1940 during World War II just as Italy enters the war, Malena's husband Nino Scordia leaves to serve in the war. Malena feels sad and tries to cope with her loss, as the town she has just moved to tries to deal with this beautiful woman who gets the attention and lustful stares of all the local men, including the 12-year-old Renato. However, in spite of the villagers' gossip, she continues to be faithful to her husband.
The silent, distractingly beautiful outsider learns one day that her husband has been killed. Renato continues to watch as she suffers from loneliness and grief. Malena is shunned by the townspeople and the jealous women of the Italian village.
She visits her father, an almost deaf professor of Latin, regularly and helps him with his household chores. The entire film takes place with the background of the Fascists ruling Italy and people praising "Il Duce" (Mussolini). In the meanwhile, the war worsens. The village is bombed and Malena's father is killed.
She falls on hard times and eventually has no money. She is forced to ask favours from men in exchange for sex. The wife of the local dentist takes her to court for seducing her husband, but Malena is acquitted. Her lawyer, a bachelor who lives in fear of his own mother, doesn't want money from her; instead, he sleeps with her, as the young voyeur Renato watches on.
Renato becomes obsessed with Malena and starts fantasizing about her while masturbating. He also witnesses some men forcing themselves on her after Malena cuts her hair and dyes it red. When the German army comes to town, Malena prostitutes herself with the Germans as well. Renato sees her in the company of two German officers and faints. His mother and the older ladies of the town think that he has been possessed by the devil and take him to church to exorcise the "demons". His father however understands that he is suffering from sexual hunger and takes him to a brothel; Renato has sex with one of the prostitutes while fantasizing that she is Malena.
When the war ends, the women of the village gather and, out of jealousy and hatred, beat Malena and she leaves for Messina. A few days later, Nino Scordia returns to town, to the shock of all the residents. He finds his house occupied by people displaced by the war. Renato tells him through a semi-anonymous letter where Malena has gone. Nino goes to Messina to find her. A year later, they return. The villagers, especially the women, begin to talk to "Signora Scordia" with respect. In the last scene, Renato helps her pick up some oranges that had fallen down from her shopping bag. He wishes her "Bona fortuna, Signora Malena" and rides his bicycle away, looking back at her for a final time walking away.
[edit] US version
The United States version of the film was heavily cut due to the portrayal of the young boy fantasizing about performing sexual acts with Malena. One scene of the uncut version of the film sees the boy visiting a brothel and going to bed with a prostitute that resembles Malena.
[edit] External links
- Malèna at the Internet Movie Database
- Malèna (2000) film review at Pellicola - window to fine italian cinema.
