The Italian drama of 2000, Giuseppe Tornatore, who acted in the project as a director and screenwriter, shot on the same name by Luciano Vincenzoli, is a truly imperishable masterpiece of world cinema.
Trampled beauty
The film “Malena” is described in reviews as a profound parable about how defenseless beauty is in front of the destructive power of female envy and animal male lust. The tragedy of the woman, guilty only of the fact that she is too beautiful for this world, is told on behalf of a young hero, an unrequitedly in love with a Sicilian teenager. At the same time, the cinema amazingly accurately reflects the historical realities of Sicily in the 40s of the XX century. The main roles were played by the young but promising Giuseppe Sulfaro, who at the time of the release of the tape was barely 16 years old, and the inimitable Monica Bellucci. The film "Malena" in reviews and reviews has earned many praises, its IMDb rating: 7.50.
Nostalgic retro drama
Giuseppe Tornatore is a unique filmmaker. He began his career in big cinema with what experienced directors traditionally end their career - with a nostalgic retro film. His second project was the "New Cinema" Paradiso "", which brought worldwide fame, the Oscar and the Grand Prix of the Kansk Festival. After a while, “Malena” followed - a film in the reviews of which they also rank the work of the cinema and retro style, but they notice that the 2000 project is inferior to the first tape in irresistible nostalgia for the times gone and in the piercing of feelings. Many film experts are inclined to regard the two mentioned films and The Legend of the Ocean Pianist as a kind of trilogy dedicated to the bright sadness of the irrevocable past, doomed to remain in the grateful memory of their contemporaries. Indeed, over the past years, the paintings really begin to resemble the creative fantasies of the creators or cinematic illusions.
Plot
The narrative is presented in the form of memoirs of a key actor about his teenage period, which took place during the Second World War. Renato at the age of thirteen moves with his family to a permanent residence in a small Sicilian town. His attention is attracted by an indescribably beautiful woman named Malena. Residents of the town relish rumors about her licentiousness, all men of childbearing age do not abandon attempts to become her lovers, but the woman remains faithful to her husband, who went to the front. Subsequently, the attitude of the townspeople towards Malena comes to outright rudeness, vulgar ridicule and undisguised rudeness.
During the offensive of American troops, local hatred of women increases to the limit. Renato, obsessed with youthful love, secretly takes revenge on the offenders, but is unable to change the situation. In a fury, the crowd drags the unfortunate woman out of the house, brutally beats him and cuts her on the bald head. Malena leaves the city. At this moment, her husband returns, mistakenly believed to be murdered, he is trying to find out what happened to his wife. Renato helps spouses reunite.
Synopsis
According to the authoritative opinion of the critics expressed in the reviews of the film Malena, one of the ingenious author’s moves in the film should be considered that the lover of Renato in his dreams of a local beauty represents himself next to her in old films like “Stagecoach” or “Tarzan” . Another author’s success is references to the satirical Sicilian comedies “Ladies and Gentlemen” and “Seductive and Abandoned” by Pietro Jermi, in the filming of which Luciano Vincenzoni was directly involved. Giuseppe Tornatore's project is based on his largely autobiographical story. Of course, critics in the reviews of the film “Malena” noticed that he was not completely sustained in the necessary nostalgic mood, but the noble finale, accompanied by indescribably touching musical passages by Ennio Morricone, fully atone for all the shortcomings.
Features of the production process
In the effective implementation of the author’s idea, an important role, according to reviews on the film Malena, was played by the performer of the main role. At that time, only the rising star Monica Bellucci, reminiscent of Stefania Sandrelli in her youth, became the “object of obvious desire” of the audience.
The director kept an eye on the opus of Luciano Vincenzoni for a long time, but for five years after the refusal, Sophia Loren could not choose a suitable performer. Once on the set of an advertisement for Dolce & Gabbana, he met Monica Bellucci. According to Giuseppe Tornatore, it seemed to dawn on him. He realized that this actress will be able to fit perfectly into the image of the heroine. After that, without casting, he began to process the script for it. By the way, reviews of the film “Malena” with Monica Bellucci emphasize that the name of the heroine is an abbreviation for Maddalena, which is an author's reference to Maria Magdalena.
Classics of the genre
In addition to Ennio Morricone, who received an Oscar and a Golden Globe nomination for his soundtrack, film makers also recognized Lajos Koltai, who received the David Donatello Prize. The operator who shot one of the most exquisite films in the history of the world film industry subsequently repeatedly collaborated with Giuseppe Tornatore.
The film “Malena” (2000) is often criticized by film experts in genre recklessness; in their opinion, the picture either comes down to outright parody, or rises to the level of almost opera chamberness. But this stylistic scatter absolutely does not harm the implementation of the main theme and its metaphor - the story of the violated beauty.