Malena

Malena

In this unforgettable heart-wrenching coming-of-age story – an exemplary period piece that indulges in the beauty of the Italian landscape and unfolds the darkest aspects of European history – Monica Bellucci delivers a monumental performance, creating a fearless, multilayered female character. Amidst the war climate, a teenage boy discovering himself becomes love-stricken by Malena, a sensual woman living in a small, narrow-minded town in Sicily. As the most beautiful woman in town, Malena becomes the subject of increasingly malicious gossip among the lustful townsmen and their jealous wives. But only her most ardent admirer, young Renato Amoroso, will learn her mysterious untold story – and with it, a valuable lesson about courage. A film as beautiful and seductive as its heroine, with its ravishing cinematography and sweepingly romantic Ennio Morricone score is reminiscent of Hollywood-type classics, but it is a darkly disturbing, violent story of gossip, false accusations, sexuality, voyeuristic adolescents, revenge, and tragedy.
Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Giuseppe Tornatore
Script: Giuseppe Tornatore
Cinematography: Lajos Koltai
Editing: Massimo Quaglia
Music: Ennio Morricone
Actors: Monica Bellucci, Giusseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana
Producers: Carlo Bernasconi, Harvey Weinstein
Format: DCP
Color: Color
Production Country: Italy, USA
Production Year: 2000
Duration: 108'

Giuseppe Tornatore

Giuseppe Tornatore (born 27 May 1956) is an Italian film director and screenwriter. He is considered one of the directors who brought critical acclaim back to Italian cinema. In a career spanning over 30 years he is best known for directing and writing drama films such as Everybody's Fine, The Legend of 1900, Malèna, Baarìa, and The Best Offer. His most noted film is Cinema Paradiso, for which Tornatore won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He has also directed several advertising campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana. Tornatore is also known for his long-standing association with composer Ennio Morricone, who composed music for thirteen Tornatore feature films since 1988.

Filmography

(selected)
1988 Cinema Paradiso
1990 Everybody's Fine
1994 A Pure Formality
1998 The Legend of 1900
2000 Malena
2006 The Unknown Woman
2009 Baaria
2013 The Best Offer
2016 Correspondence