Malèna is a, so she thinks, widow thanks to her husband apparently being killed in WWII. The film follows the little boy and his obsession with Malèna. Considering some of the things this kid goes through to see her, as well as some of his fantasies, that may have been a good thing. Second, Malèna is an Italian film, so be ready to do some reading.Īs a little boy growing up, there were more than a few women that I had infatuations with, but none looked like Malèna. First, I think Monica Bellucci is one of the most perfect women in the world. Still today, it’s her, the only one I have never forgottenĪlright, let’s get two things out of the way. He says, according to the English subtitles, “Of all the girls who asked me to remember them, the only one I remembered is the one who did not ask.” (the original Italian literally translates to “I have known many women who have told me, ‘remember me,’ and I have forgotten all of them. As this final scene fades out, an adult Renato’s voice-over reflects that he has not forgotten Malena, even after the passage of so many years. This is the first and only time they speak to each other in the movie. Malena) and rides off on his bicycle, looking back at her for a final time, as she walks away. Afterwards he wishes her “Buona fortuna, Signora Malena” (good luck, Mrs. In the last scene near the beach, Renato helps her pick up some oranges that had dropped from her shopping bag. Though still beautiful, they think of her as no threat, claiming that she has wrinkles near her eyes and has put on some weight. The villagers, especially the women, astonished at her courage, begin to talk to “Signora Scordia” with respect. Renato tells him through an anonymous letter about Malena’s whereabouts and the fact that she always loved only him and all the rumors about her cheating were not true.
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He finds his house occupied by people displaced by the war. A few days later, Nino Scordia, Malena’s husband, returns looking for her, to the shock of all the residents.
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When the war ends, the women gather and publicly beat and humiliate Malena, who leaves for Messina. His father however takes him to a brothel Renato has sex with one of the prostitutes while fantasizing that she is Malena. His mother and the older ladies think that he has been possessed and take him to church for an exorcism. Renato sees her in the company of two German officers and faints. When the German army comes to town, Malena gives herself to Germans as well. Malena’s poverty finally forces her to become a prostitute. After her acquittal, Malena’s lawyer Centorbi, using her unpaid legal fee as leverage, forces himself upon her while Renato peeps in from outside her house.
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The only man Malena does have an innocent romance with, an army officer, is sent away. Court is told that Malena is being harassed for being beautiful as other ladies feel insecure and threatened by her. The wife of the local dentist takes Malena to court, accusing her to having an affair with her husband, but Malena is acquitted. The village is bombed and Malena’s father is killed. When a slanderous letter reaches his hands, their relationship suffers a catastrophic blow. She visits her father, an almost deaf professor of Latin, regularly and helps him with his chores. Malena is shunned by the townspeople who begin to believe the worst about her, simply because of her beauty. Renato continues to watch as she suffers from grief. Renato becomes obsessed with Malena and starts fantasizing about her. However, in spite of the gossip, she continues to be faithful to her husband. Malena tries to cope with her loss, as the town she has moved to tries to deal with this beautiful woman who gets the attention of all the local men, including the 12-year-old Renato. Malena’s husband, Nino Scordia, who left to join the military is presumed dead. The film is set in Sicily in 1940 during World War II just as Italy enters the war.