Review of Malena (2000) by Alexander C — 25 Jun 2008

''Buona fortuna, signora Malèna.''.

An intimate portrait and an epic story of the courage we discover, the innocence we surrender, and the memories we cherish.....forever.

Monica Bellucci: Malena Scordia.

Giuseppe Sulfaro: Renato Amoroso.

Malena interested me straight away when I heard about Monica Bellucci's involvement. Mainly told through a boy's admiration and love for a beautiful woman who is fancied by every man and hated by every woman in the town. Malena ends up having the power to silence a whole crowd just from merely walking through the Town Square. Amusing to see we the audience people's horrible and lustful remarks.

So young Renato Amoroso played well by Giuseppe Sulfaro tells us this story as he spy's on her every move even at her home through a conveniently placed hole. Very comical to see his imagination conjure up scenes of him and her together, or anyone commenting negatively of Malena resulting in Renato weeing in handbags or spitting in drinks, even throwing a brick into a store window because the shop keeper comments on her ass.

What we get is a story of compassion, of survival and of beauty being a curse as well as a gift. When Malena uses her beauty for her own advantages, sleeping with men for things, she becomes the one thing people rumoured her to be.

A Court case which comes about because of an argument over Malena being engaged is crazy. Here is a woman getting in trouble for being beautiful, for having men fight over her. And how does she repay her lawyer, yes you've guessed it, but does she have a choice?

Even the German's get her attention as she partners up with a fellow ''lady'' to subject her self to the whore house. But again she's just capitilizing on the one great thing going for her much to the dismay of young Renato.

Granted times are hard for her and it's understandable granted shes lost her husband and seems to have bad luck with men in general. Malena had one scene particularly that shows how cruel and spitefully jealous women are and how useless and placid men can be.

It's a lovely quaint film which shows beautiful scenery and really does capture the feel of WW2 Italy. Accompanied with vibrant characters and an enriched Score Malena makes for a very enjoyable film indeed. There's also a lovely twist near the end and a heartfelt return for Malena as she is forced to leave. Does Renato finally get to say something to his beloved Malena? Watch and find out, it's lovely.