12-year-old Renato experiences three significant events on the same day: the beginning of the Second World War, getting a bike, and witnessing the arrival of the gorgeous Malèna. Through his eyes, we see the curse of beauty and loneliness of Malena, whose husband is presumed dead, and, through his soul, we see his love for her.
Cinematography
Every frame sweats heat and desire — Lajos Koltai is merciless.
Score
Morricone's main theme will haunt your dreams for weeks.
Acting
Bellucci speaks maybe 200 words total. Devastates without dialogue.
Director
Giuseppe Tornatore
Monica Bellucci
Malèna Scordia
Giuseppe Sulfaro
Renato Amoroso
Luciano Federico
Renato's Father
Matilde Piana
Renato's Mother
Pietro Notarianni
Prof. Bonsignore
Gaetano Aronica
Nino Scordia
Gilberto Idonea
Centorbi, the Lawyer
Angelo Pellegrino
Political Secretary
Domenico Gennaro
Pharmacist
Vitalba Andrea
Pharmacist's Wife
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Monica Bellucci refused body doubles — every shot of Malena is her, making the public humiliation scenes genuinely dangerous to film.
The US cut trimmed 9 minutes of Renato's masturbation fantasies; Tornatore called this 'castrating the film's honesty about boyhood desire.'
IT
