Malèna

Name: Malèna
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance, War
Released: December 25, 2000
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 54
Cast: Giuseppe Sulfaro, Monica Bellucci

2000

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 97 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 97 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: December 25, 2000 | R

Starring: Giuseppe Sulfaro, Monica Bellucci

Summary: Malena (Bellacci), a beautiful young war widow, inspires the sensual awakenings of a group of adolescent boys in 1941 Sicily.

Director: Giuseppe Tornatore

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 109 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

Qualifies as director Giuseppe Tornatore's second full-fledged masterpiece. His first: "Cinema Paradiso." Read full review

Carrie Rickey

Gives audiences something more than just a heart-stopping beauty to contemplate. Read full review

Dennis Lim

A nostalgic coming-of-age sex comedy tastefully lecherous enough to indicate that its intended demographic is several decades past puberty. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

No period of Italian history has produced more great movies than the WWII years . But, Malena romanticizes and even sentimentalizes those years.

Mike Clark

There's definitely some paradiso in watching Malena walking, but not enough to sustain almost two hours of cinema. Read full review

Roger Ebert

There is noting quite so awkward as a film that is one thing while it pretends to be another. Read full review

Film.com Henry Cabot Beck

In the end, Malena is an unlikable and foul farce, unworthy of Tornatore's previously gentle touch. Read full review

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User Reviews

sathyav.

Dec 18, 2007

I love this movie. we must view this film in an auto-analystic way of admiring the characters. this movie has some magic that we keep on thinking about it even after weeks or months...oops! i must say this is a movie of a life time. i'm glad to have it in my collections of dvd. I love this movie. we must view this film in an auto-analystic way of admiring the characters. this movie has some magic that we keep on thinking about it even after weeks or months...oops! i must say this is a movie of a life time. i'm glad to have it in my collections of dvd. tornatore is way ahead of mankind.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

R.L.

Jan 5, 2009

A truly extraordinary film! I loved every minute of it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

GREEK-GOD

Jan 6, 2018

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 theWow, 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.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ChrisS.

Apr 4, 2006

What a great movie. Excellent performances with a spectacular score and striking images. You won't forget this one.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

alejandro970

Mar 19, 2021

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.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MariaKo

Jun 7, 2015

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 veryA 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.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

AthenaConfused

Dec 18, 2020

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 againstThe 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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73	#73 Most Discussed Movie of 2000
12	#12 Most Shared Movie of 2000