X
- 2000
- R
- Miramax
- 1 h 48 m
- 2000
- R
- Miramax
- 1 h 48 m
Summary Malena (Bellacci), a beautiful young war widow, inspires the sensual awakenings of a group of adolescent boys in 1941 Sicily.
Directed By: Giuseppe Tornatore
Written By: Luciano Vincenzoni, Giuseppe Tornatore
- 2000
- R
- Miramax
- 1 h 48 m
- 2000
- R
- Miramax
- 1 h 48 m
Malèna
54
7.6
Summary Malena (Bellacci), a beautiful young war widow, inspires the sensual awakenings of a group of adolescent boys in 1941 Sicily.
Directed By: Giuseppe Tornatore
Written By: Luciano Vincenzoni, Giuseppe Tornatore
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
54
59% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
27% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
14% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
54
59% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
27% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
14% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Qualifies as director Giuseppe Tornatore's second full-fledged masterpiece. His first: "Cinema Paradiso."
It differs from American films about the period in its evocation of day-to-day passion. The power of beauty is often dealt with in films, but not so often its powerful curse.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 89 User Ratings
7.6
80% Positive
71 Ratings
71 Ratings
11% Mixed
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
9% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 89 User Ratings
7.6
80% Positive
71 Ratings
71 Ratings
11% Mixed
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
9% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
Wow, just finished this, totally blown away. This is a shining example of European film. You just do not get movies like this from Hollywood. It must easily be one of the best films I have ever seen. (and I have seen a lot!)
This is a deeply sad movie which you could actually compare to the Elephant Man, albeit for beauty, not ugliness, I won't say any more about the story than that.
The direction, cinematography and the score here are all flawless but the most amazing thing about this film was Monica Belluci, her subtle performance is beautiful and I could not imagine another actress in the role..
The thing that is so poignant about the performance she gave is that she has very little dialogue at all, but the deep sorrow you could see on her face and in her eyes was astonishing.
Overall: You'd be hard pressed to find a better film today so watch this one. It's an unforgettable masterpiece and I'm speechless.
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The movie metaphorically narrates the story of “Italy” during WW2 where Malena represents Italy, Nino represents the society and Renato is the representative of the new generation. In a more visible layer; however, it decries the brutal aspects of traditions and religion that seem useless to the new generation.
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You wish that Malena's inner life had been given as much accent as her outer charms.
Too often seems like a slightly silly film.
When the film changes gears from light coming-of-age comedy to ex-post-facto war parable midway through, it loses its focus and suddenly becomes a much darker beast.
Things finally work out all right--except for audiences, who will find this thin movie bereft of the more richly textured sentiments of Tornatore's "Cinema Paradiso."
In the end, Malena is an unlikable and foul farce, unworthy of Tornatore's previously gentle touch.
The sexual awakening of a teenager, and how a war widow becomes his platonic love but impossible, is not exactly the best of the director of Cinema Paradiso but it is not possible to deny that the film has its magnetism. This drama was the one that put Monica Belluci in the window.
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A really nice movie. The plot is good and shows the European style of cinematography and especially the Italian one very nice. There would be no a better actress for the Malena role than Monica Bellucci. Also, the kids play so well like professionals and especially the boy who comes very close with Malena in the nude scene is a very good actor. Nice cast, wonderful directing in the whole movie but the only scene which stands out in directing is the scene where Malena is drugged in the square.
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The film leaves a shallow feeling as you know so little less about the main characters persona and no idea about other character's motivation. This film might be a good example of how woman was depicted over only physical beauty perspective in cinema 20 years ago and nobody stood up against it for some reason. I might have been impressed if I haven't ever seen a Mediterranean concept on a movie before.
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Malena ‘2000 – Glossy Excuses Hiding in plain sight is screenplay writer/director Giuseppe Tornatore’s superficial attempts to camouflage his own attraction to sexual immorality. All too often, as with his contemporaries, Pasolini and Bertolucci, the aim is to hide their personal obsessions within historical situations as a thin excuse for suspect over-indulgence - Paedophilia and abuse are never far from sight in their works. They use expensively stylized production values such as lush cinematography, music scores, and glossy cast members, all aided and abetted by equally suss producers (and in this case, none other than the perverse Harvey Weinstein) These moviemakers set about creating seductive stories dressed in ‘nice’ imagery, yet no matter how much the ‘artist’ polishes a turd it still remains a turd. Using the backdrop of a fictional Italian town during world war 11, we have a gorgeous (and actually innocent) young woman who literally, every male (bar none!) is setting up to have carnal relations with. Even the town’s school kids are shown interfering with themselves in lust for her. Predictably, the town’s other womenfolk are all stereotypically depicted as stuffy types with malevolent, violent hatred towards her. This excuses the movie maker for setting up endlessly obscene situations to show off the desired, vulnerable female subject – throughout this, the superficial gloss is supposed to dress it up as ‘art’. For a discerning audience, this manipulation will appear obvious, and may only please (or fool) those with a bent toward the perverse.
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Production Company
Medusa Film,
Miramax,
Pacific Pictures,
Tele+
Release Date Dec 25, 2000
Duration 1 h 48 m
Rating R
Tagline An intimate portrait and an epic story of the courage we discover, the innocence we surrender, and the memories we cherish.....forever.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 2 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 2 Nominations
Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
• 1 Win & 4 Nominations
