A WORLD AT WAR. A YOUNG MAN COMING OF AGE. AND THE WOMAN WHO CHANGED HIS LIFE FOREVER.Ā
In World War II Sicily, 13-year-old Renato (Guiseppe Sulfaro) falls in love with the beautiful Malena (Monica Bellucci), but she’s about to fall from grace. Director Giuseppe Tornatore returns to some of the themes from his Cinema Paradiso (1988). As the sexual wants of a teenager are awakened, the object of his desire, the most gorgeous woman in town, faces a sad future when she loses her husband in the war. The filmmakers try to conceal a lack of original ideas with pleasant vistas and Ennio Morricone’s music; Bellucci is perfect in the part of Malena.
2000-U.S.-Italy. 94 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed byĀ Giuseppe Tornatore. Cinematography: Lajos Koltai. Music: Ennio Morricone. Cast: Monica Bellucci (Malena Scordia), Giuseppe Sulfaro (Renato Amoroso), Luciano Federico (Renato’s father), Matilde Piana, Pietro Notarianni, Gaetano Aronica.Ā
