German title: Der Zauber von Malèna Russian title: Малена Original title: Malèna
Alternative titles: Malena | Der Zauber von Malena
Love movie – Italy, USA Production year: 1999 Movie length: 92 minutes
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore Writer: Giuseppe Tornatore, Luciano Vincenzoni Cinematograph: Lajos Koltai Music: Ennio Morricone
Movie description:
On the day in 1940 that Italy enters the war, two things happen to the 13-year-old Renato: he gets his first bike, and he gets his first look at Malèna, a beautiful, silent outsider who’s moved to this Sicilian town to be with her husband Nico who promptly goes off to war, leaving her to the lustful eyes of the men and the sharp tongues of the women. During the next few years, as Renato grows toward manhood, he watches Malèna suffer and prove her mettle: her loneliness, then grief when Nico is reported dead, the effects of slander on her relationship with her father, her poverty and search for work, and final humiliations. Will Renato learn courage from Malèna and stand up for her?