Malena is the most talked about film of year 2000 from Italy with a screen time of around 1 hour 48 minutes. Malena original release date in Italy is October 27, 2000. This film also get a release in USA on February 2, 2001 with a screen time of 1 hour 32 minutes. That simply means, that 15 minutes has been chopped in its actual USA release.
Story: Malena movie is an erotic drama and revolves around a 13-year-old boy Giuseppe Sulfaro aka Renato Amoroso. One fine day, on the sea side, Renato saw a young beautiful woman Monica Bellucci aka Malena Scordia, whose husband went to War in North Africa. Renato finds Malena beautiful and he starts following her around the city on his new bicycle. Renato starts liking her and believes that one day he will become a man and marry her. Well, while chasing her on a cycle, he finds that the whole Sicily town men are crazy about her, on the other hand the women are jealous. Soon, it is being reported that, Malena’s husband is no more and all she has is her old father. Sooner, it is being reported that, Malena has affairs with few men in the city. This spoils her image further in the town. On the other hand, Renato feel bad about Malena and wants to protect her but he didn’t talk even a word with her. Even, Renato’s family is upset with his mischievous behavior. Will, Renato’s love for Malena come true or what happens to her in the end is what you need to watch in this film.
This film also stars Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana, Pietro Notarianni, Gaetano Aronica aka Antonino Scordia (Malena’s husband), Gilberto Idonea, Angelo Pellegrino and many others.
This film has been rated with 7.4 stars out of 10 stars on IMDB. It also holds 54 percent ratings on RottenTomatoes.com.
Bollywood Crazies Opinion: The story has been well written and portrayed beautifully on the screen. So, the director focused three things in this film, Renato’s blossoming love, Malena’s silence and Society’s constant attention on Malena’s beauty. In this film, you see how everyone wants to have Malena and make love with her. On the other hand, she can be seen waiting throughout the movie for her husband. When, it is being known that Malena’s husband might have been killed in a war? the whole town feels that now she is available. The director has clearly showed us how a society treats a widowed beautiful woman. In a scene, group of women beats Malena mercilessly. The same woman starts talking to her, when she is less beautiful in the end. There are lot of takeaways from this film. So, the direction is superb and I was completely engrossed into this film. The cinematography is good and there are few dream sequences which has been filmed beautifully. Over the top, the background score gives elevation to this film. The production value is good as the film is set in the 1940’s. The flying shots of planes and bombing on the city has been beautifully shot. On the other shot we can see people running to get the shade to save their lives. These shots looks realistic and heart wrenching too. The erotic scenes might not being liked by many but those shots give more depth and meaning to the whole film. The film is like a breath of fresh air and I don’t know but I feel that it has some similarity to Cinema Paradiso (1988). The editing work is also good and I find this film entertaining to the core. This film also reminds me somewhat about Bicycle Thieves (1948) due to the child and bicycle similarity.
Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore and the story has been written by Luciano Vincenzoni. It have been produced by Harvey Weinstein and Carlo Bernasconi. The cinematography has been done by Lajos Koltai and the musicial score given by Ennio Morricone. The editing work has been handled by Massimo Quaglia.
Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore and the story has been written by Luciano Vincenzoni. It have been produced by Harvey Weinstein and Carlo Bernasconi. The cinematography has been done by Lajos Koltai and the musicial score given by Ennio Morricone. The editing work has been handled by Massimo Quaglia.
Altogether, Malena is surely a movie which is unique and captivating throughout. Something from this movie will stay with you through the rest of your life for sure.
Last Word: Watch it if you love pure cinema. Also watch it for Malena and Renato.
Bollywood Crazies Ratings: Malena Review- Brilliant (80 percent out of 100).
Note: This is an 18+ audience movie.
