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A
thinking about "Malena"
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Italy-US
co-production film "Malena" first analysis
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| Following
the "Art Trilogy" "Cinina Paradiso"(1988),
Stanno tutti bene (1990) and The Legend of 1900 (1999) creatived
as ideas of "movie, opera, music", in 2000, Giuseppe
Tornatore shooted a romantic drama film "Malena"
that is an Allegorical style with different subject and taken
his country Sicilia as background. |
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The
gist of the story
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the spring of 1940, Sicilia, Italy was involved into second
war, fascist was cause a temporary clamour in the small town.
The juvenile Renato Amoroso (Giuseppe Sulfaro) who have just
owned a bicycle, was influenced by a gan of faineant contemporary,
start to pay attention to the unique beauty Malèna Scordia
( Monica Bellucci) in the town. Different from the accompaniers
who are harassed by Adolescent sexual bud, Renato Amoroso
was plunged into among mad hidden love on the Malena, as a
result that unable to extricate themselves. Malena is 27 years
old, her husband conscripts to fight in foreign countries
and she lived alone at home. She became the sex idol worship
of boys and center of attention of all male residents of the
town when she walks in the street with graceful gait. The
father of Malena is a teacher, but he tragically killed in
an air strike. And military also announced the Malena's husband
died in battle in foreign countries, her situation is even
more lonely and helpless and forced prostitution. In a few
years time, Renato who have formed peeping habit witnessed
that the innocent woman suffered all. U.S. forces liberated
Sicily, local women to Malena jealousy, grudge has been a
long time, now excuse that she was German whore, dragged her
to the square on the beat, and shaved off her hair. Malena
who covered with wounds and alone left the town where she
was hated and deflowered. After the war, a scarecrow back
in town, the only one arm of a man, he just is Malena's husband
Nino Scordia, he was still alive. In the town residents with
cold-blooded selfishness, only one boy expressed sympathy
to him and told his wife's whereabouts. A year later, Renato
and his girlfriend standing in the crowd watching a pair of
men and women who have experienced the vicissitudes back to
the native place. This time, Malena is snuggling with her
husband through the town's squares and streets. The couple
each other supported with expression of indifference, toward
their house is located in the seaside went ... ... |
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Film
Analysis
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1.
Hiding in the plot of the two themes
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The
military vehicles through the streets, informing all residents
to listen to leader's speech on time, then the voice-over
of Mussolini instigates war resounded through the town;
A boy Renato finally got a bicycle, riding happily it in
the streets; One body part close-up of a woman who is dressing
and making up at home; in the process of cross-editing of
three sets of lenses, Tornatore tells the story began. The
picture presented a warm tone where is away from the war
and is warmed by the sun and looks relaxed contentment,
when the time is far past, only the voiceover that is flicker
and full the smell of gunpowder to remind people that the
people where living in that space and time where are experiencing
severe war. A comparatively independent and integrated plot
filled implied meanning: when the waiting time for the beauty
appeare, the children gather together,Through a magnifying
glass with focused sunlight, brutal killing of a small innocent
lives of ants ... ...
Leaders
in the radio so forcefully stressed: "The supreme command,
you must unconditionally obey!" ... ...
Driven
to distraction of Renato asked: "She is called what?"
"Malena, Sicily's most beautiful little girl,"
expression obsessed partner to answer.
Soon
afterwards two voice of dialogue background appeared in
the audience ears, Several boys reluctantly ended their
greed peek and pursuit to the beauty, lovestruck Renato
has thus fallen into the abyss of unrequited love. The signed
by above two paragraphs of unrelated language, just is difficult
to link the two themes in the story that is Tornatore would
like to express: 1.Italy that lose its soul and has been
controled by a crazy bedlamite in those year, followed Nazi
Germany tend towards the war; 2. A juvenile experienced
sexual impulses and finally walk up to maturity, and leave
nice memories of adolescence.
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Setting
of frontal one theme, provided adequate display space for
common "anti-war" thinking in the films of many
countries, but Tornatore is only through a number of relatively
subtle plot to represent it, this just is the key of the
movie plot that make one feel serious imbalance: Renato
dispute with his father because he stealing to modify his
father's pants, Suppress the voice of his father said, "Wait
until the leader is dead, I must let you to wear pantalettes";
Renato deliberately colliding with the statue of the leader
on the ground after being driven out of the classroom by
teacher, Mussolini's head was wrestling in half; A cinema
is screening of war propaganda film, auditorium is on the
sparse, Renato all turn a blind eye to the screen, a prostitutes
are being invited to hand to help him solve the problem
... ...etc. If Tornatore really want to express a "positive
anti-war thinking",then only the metaphor of the plot
is far from enough, since directly related to the circumstances
of war, leaving only a lively scene that Allied landing
in Sicily (July 1943)
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Although
the film's most of the scenes shot in Morocco, but the story
place is same with most of the Tornatore previous works
(former two films of the "Art Trilogy" and "Blue
Spot Dog" of the "Especially on Sunday "
componented by 3 segments in 1991 and "Star Maker"
in 1995)- all are his hometown, thus, Tornatore who always
is with himself as screenwriter used Luciano Vincenzoni's
original background of the story of World War II, Once again
provides a relatively good display space for he own nostalgic
thoughts that is always haunting in his heart
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| Tornatore
In this film intentionally showing off, it just was juvenile
Renato's sexual bud and sexual disillusionment, and his "love"
experiences and changes in the process. But there is no doubt,
so bold, almost undisguised expression of male sexual impulses
and voyeuristic behavior, in the world of film is rare.Tornatore
caused no small controversy in this time. Movie (in particular
full version issued in the Italian home) plot repeated subjective
lens with male obscene mean: Malena's feature of various parts
of the body from head to toe and corresponding greedy eyes
of the boy, subconscious moans and the physical response,
the strong cravings of all the men in town when they indecent
without exception followed Malena, also impressive hero Renato's
pictures of always
sexual fantasies and his masturbation in the bed for many
times etc....No wonder that an article In the "sight
and sound" magazine of United States appears such wording:
"Whenever the camera swings toward Malena, the lenses
just like dropping hormone" |
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But
in fact, Tornatore exceeded "level restriction"
set by by official censorship in countries in his this allegorical
work, in order face to the ancient eternal topic--"human
instinct" in the screen for the first time in the world
, it is needs rather courage. Italian film person's unrestrained
and romantic by nature in relation to "sex" issue,
always surpasses their counterparts in France, it is very
evident only from Constantly issued of master of softcore
eroticism-Tinto Brass' works that is "Sound , Light
and color" all-round elegant film. Although the proportion
that the contents between plot of the two themes for the
interpretation is imbalance (This is especially severe in
the full version), but Tornatore boldly explored adolescent
experience that are preserved by each one adult male, and
pictured the secret, dirty corner of each modern heart with
the Freudian lens of language. The context of the outspoken
and straightforward tactics reminiscent that perhaps everything
from memory of sexual repression in the childhood and adolescence
suffered by screenwriter Vincenzoni and director self who
also is part-time screenwriter, from a kind of thirst for
to frankly face to human instinct and made the experience
on this instinctive to clear in the world.
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To
see of the lover in the hearts finally was embraced by others,
Renato apart from grieving, also completed his exceeding of
so-called "love",into a kind of level of spiritual
experience, he began to mature from originally passionate
and precocious. Renato out of the peeping stage that is wretched
and only to meet the sexual, after Malena subjected to unfair
treatment and was brutally beaten, he produced a new kind
of emotional
to this weak women, sympathy and compassion are far greater
than the narrow-minded in his heart "love". The
last track their own goddess, Renato is far from looking at
Malena's cheek that full of scars covered with a black turban
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through bustling flow in the open-air platform, boarded a
crowded compartment.Renato also saw, through the glass on
the window,Malena is woodenly stareing out with beautiful
eyes exposed in the scarves outside, that familiar land out
window , original is her hometown. At the moment, it is tearjerker
that music full of sympathy and compassion and ringing in
the ears of the audience ... ... |
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(2)
Music participation
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| As
analysis the works of Sergio Leone who passed away, analysis
of Tornatore's film do not involve the music is impossible.
Because the composer of two directors is same person - one
of world's last remaining masters of music, Ennio Morricone.People
familiar with Morricone works all knows that his music that
constitutes one of the many elements of one film always occupied
a special status |
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The
music of "Malena" obtained Oscar nominated for
best original music soundtrack, Prior it has received the
Golden Globe Award for Best Musical.This is that 72-year-old
Morricone received fifth Oscar nomination in his life(The
first four were in 1978's "Days
of Heaven", 1986's "mission" in 1987's
"The Untouchables" and the 1991's "Bugsy").Ultimately
the ones who long enjoyed a good reputation lost a young
novice--To Tan Dun who is composer for Ang Lee's that Hollow
martial arts film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
This gimmick reminiscent of a few years ago the Brazilian
film "Central Station" (1998). In the fierce competition
for the Best Actress Award, Increasingly focus on business
effectiveness of the juries,ultimately gave the gold awards
to the "Shakespeare in Love," of starring women
whocan be said as to the young and beautiful romance but
mediocre acting. The Brazilian actress Fernanda Montenegro
who was born in 1929, even if her acting reached a pinnacle,
it will not be much of Oscar's appeal,especially for the
people of so-called "future prospects" and a variety
of business opportunities. The Oscar voters lack of understanding
on the world of film music's top personalities Ennio Morricone.
First of all, his outstanding contribution to the history
of film music is that no one can achieve. After a little
research some of the representative works of Morricone's
more than 400 works, John Williams who has won no fewer
than 40 Oscar nominations and six times award, has just
discovered that Morricone's achievements in the field in
film music is incomparable with the other composers, so
not to mention inexperienced person!
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can be seen, composer of "Malena" soundtrack again
demonstrated innovation and self-transcendence.Morricone works
in the past has never been lack of humor.This Italian-style
humor was played to the extreme particularly in the music
of the 1970s Leone's works "A Fistful of Dynamite"
and the same is the Leone-style Italian Franco-German co-production
film "My Name Is Nobody"( 1974). Now, just view
from the overwhelming "Walking on the streets" (Passeggiata
in Paese) theme in the movie "Malena", appears to
depict the heroine's graceful melody of walking in the street
in the eyes, it has been most vividly the development and
sublimation as a fuse between humor that is one of human special
taste and unparalleled biting satire. In the pizzicato 4 /
4 beat uniform rhythm in the strings,Mandolin (Italy of a
civil plucked instrument) and the synthesizer,piano and other
instruments together playing in Unison a "Walk"
motive in the first and third phrases,the different instrumental
timbre in the second and fourth phrases composed an answer
sentence, salient features of this theme just is its richness
of content.Morricone works in the past has been known as multi-faceted
and rich of the image of his music. The most notable example
is the theme of "Man With A Harmonica " that is
implies more motivation in the film "Once upon a time
in the west"(See my another writing: "a volume grand
symphonic poem of movie"). Now, the "walking street"
theme also covers a large number of image. It not only depicts
the women's graceful gait, more importantly, it is same as
are the well-known subjective lens of the film, also from
the subjective perspective of music, make a vivid sketch to
the kinds of passions excited persons, full of features and
demeanor Jealousy, therefore, the composer made the second,
third and fourth respectively of the theme, emerged all living
creatures gestos that was copied by way of the mandolin, violin
and trumpet solo. This topic (Soundtrack CD track 3)in the
film (full version) appeared before and after up to 10 times
as a relatively complete form or in fragments, only last time
is the focus on the that pictured demeanor and the inner world
of the heroine, but which still have many perspective of spectator.
The last occurrence of "walking the streets" should
be seen as the first variation of theme (Soundtrack CD Track
1): Weather-beaten Malena snuggle with their husbands, again
across the street and lane. The overture part is same as the
beginning of Orchestration of theme, but soon afterwards appeared
the melody played by relatively gentle electric guitar solo,
a heart view changes of the composer can be felt. Variation
of the second paragraph in the music, electric guitar solo
then being replaced by a gradually strong Strings Ensemble.
It apparently is a new Malena who has experienced of the inconstancy
of human relationships that occured in front of people and
depicted by that simple but profound, moving melody with a
sense of desolate mournful. |
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on this theme and the film's second theme that is "Malena
theme" (Soundtrack CD track 2) together, it revealed
that the director and composer sent to the deep sympathy for
the hostess, Also revealed the hidden profound meaning under
that plot structure relied by the seemingly superficial story
and characters form |
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(3)
The film structure and characterization
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"Malena" is used in a linear narrative, or more
precisely the traditional chronological and spatial structure. |
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Tornatore, maybe this relatively single narrative structure,
than that he in his masterpiece "Cinema Paradiso"
and "The legend of 1900" used structure in the flashback
in time and space is more conducive to convey his "past
feeling". there is only a few Renato's narration in the
development process of the story,but until the last, adult
Renato's last memories is still that was told by the juvenile
actor Sulfaro in its fledgling voice:"I have loved many
women, but I can not forget unique that only Malena".
In the film, bathed in warm sunlight of the lens is always
with the "gold" tag, seem the boy never grow up
is wasting the golden age in the life day after day |
The
lucky youth Giuseppe Sulfaro who are initial board screen
figured Renato. His a pair simple transparent and sophistication
of large eyes, make people to recall the small cast Salvatore
Cascio who acted Toto of "Cinema Paradiso". But
because Sulfaro year older than Salvatore Cascio, Sulfaro
carrying more several times pressure. This pressure mainly
from performance of those "Lust psycholagny scene".
At the same time all the audience understanding of the life
of the heroine can only be through the eyes of this youth.
Although some reluctance, but Sulfaro's performance fairly
is accurate.
Truly controversial in the film also is this heroine Malena
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Same
article in "Sight and sound" magazine also pointed
out: "Undeniably, the heroine Malena acted by former
fashion model Monica Bellucci is a striking presence. but
Tornatore almost refuse to let his heroine do anything,
Causing her to look beautiful believers, but there is not
depth of performance. The article also commented that all
local men love her, and all the women resented her. Malena
became a mystery and perplexing characters and a target
aimed by all....These comments is accurate to say, but also
is inevitably some biased. Some fans named the film as "The
beautiful legend of Sicily". Maybe they took note of
the director tells the romantic story of a legendary and
also is take their hometown as the background. It is precisely
in such a story as the basis, Tornatore re-examine the he
disgraceful role played by the country in the history of
World War II: The "victory" of colonial war in
Ethiopia in 1930s mid brings the imperialist ambitions of
expansion, Lead to escalation of international tensions;
In giving up the soul and perfunctory seek temporary peace
of the people connivance, clown-style dictator Mussolini
to control state power, Eventually Collusion with the Nazi
Germany, set up a "Rome - Berlin axis", As well
as the prevalence of fascism, the die out of Italian people's
good nature and conscience....Perhaps some problems in the
original script has led to increase of "reality"
in the narrative process and the "Fable" signed
a grade level of story taste was weakened, but the director's
intention is that set up Malena as a visual symbol and a
symbolic figure,It is come dowm in one line with Tornatore's
film style and form means. An article in the United States
"box office" issued in March 2001 said: "Tornatore
"targeted" symbolized Italy as this character
Malena. The suffering experienced by Malena is the history
of flogging given Italy's hypocritical, and this hypocrisy
has historically allowed the Italians cannibalism. autophagy
the best of them , most beautiful figure". So Tornatore
make their favorite heroine is only a small amount of dialogue,let
her to cover up the inner world of loneliness used only
beautiful coat, Trying to build a thought-provoking enigmatic
image in the front of audience under screen. To be fair,
although it is not too successful that the figures compared
to other actors shaped by Tornatore, but Malena do not represent
the Bellucci's acting who has entered the movie in early
1990s Bellucci. More than 10 years ago, the performance
in the French film "Apartment" (L'Appartement,
1996) has won the most promising actress nominations of
Cesar Award for Monica Bellucci. In the film "Malena"
, after a long forbear and taciturn, The battered Malena
Issued hoarse, angry, desperate roar to those cruel female
compatriots and fellow, to those despicable, vulgar and
full of lust of the philistine, Will reverberate among the
hearts of the audience in the world for long time ... ...Feb.1,2005
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001-About
the director Giuseppe Tornatore
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| Giuseppe
Tornatore (born 27 March 1956) is an Italian film director |
Biography
Born
in Bagheria near Palermo, Tornatore developed an
interest in acting and the theatre from at least the age
of 16 and put on works by Luigi Pirandello and
Eduardo De Filippo.
He worked
initially as a freelance photographer. Then, switching to
cinema, he made his debut
with Le minoranze etniche in Sicilia (The Ethnic
Minorities in Sicily), a collaborative documentary which won
a Salerno Festival prize. He then worked for RAI before releasing his first full-length
film, Il Camorrista, in 1985. This evoked a positive
response from audience and critics alike and Tornatore was
awarded the Silver Ribbon for best
new director.
Tornatore's
best known screen work was released in 1989: Nuovo Cinema Paradiso,
a film about the return of a successful film director to
his native town in Sicily for the funeral of an old
friend. This obtained worldwide success and won an Academy
Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Subsequently Tornatore
released several other films cementing his place in film
history.
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Filmography
Director
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Writer
External
links
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Giuseppe
Tornatore
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films touch the soul of Sicily, transcending the ordinary,
the conventional, the stereotypical. Giuseppe Tornatore was
born and raised in Bagheria (outside Palermo). He started
working very young as a photographer, publishing in various
photographic magazines. At the age of sixteen he staged two
plays by Pirandello and De Filippo. For the cinema he has
made various documentaries, including Il Carretto, highly
acclaimed at several regional and national film festivals
in Italy.
In 1979
be began a long collaboration with RAI (Italy's national
television network), for which he directed several programs.
From 1978 to 1985, he was chairman of the CLCT Cooperative,
which produced Giuseppe Ferrara's film 100 Days in Palermo,
with Lino Ventura. Tornatore also co-wrote the screenplay
and directed the second unit. In 1986 he made his debut
in feature films with Il Cammorrista ("The Gangster"),
starring Ben Gazzara. Freely adapted from the book by Giuseppe
Marrazzo, this singular motion picture won Tornatore a Golden
Globe for best new director.
Rural
life is a hallmark of Tornatore's "Sicilian" movies.
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, which took place in small-town Sicily,
was the film that put Tornatore on the map with international
audiences. It won the Oscar for best foreign film in 1990.
The Star Maker, set in post-war Sicily, was released in
1995, followed by Malèna in 2000. The social statements
of Malèna, an emotional story which takes place in a fictional
Sicilian town during the war, are powerfully thought-provoking.
Americans
as well as Italians have found Sicily fertile cinematic
territory. The eccentric Milanese director Roberta Torre
comes to mind. It's difficult to overlook the fact that
Tornatore's movies, compared to Francis Ford Coppola's Mafia
tales (The Godfather) and Michael Cimino's stories (The
Sicilian), depict the real Sicily and real Sicilians. Luchino
Visconti's The Leopard, starring Burt Lancaster (based on
the di Lampedusa novel), was directed exceptionally well.
But Tornatore, a younger director, is not afraid to confront,
in a serious way, difficult historical and social issues
that most Sicilians themselves rarely discuss --including
Fascism and the Second World War-- through the eyes of individual
characters and situations. With time, he is earning respect
as that rarest of cinematic talents --a "Director's
Director."
He rarely
gives interviews, preferring to let his work speak for itself.
Artistically, that's a solid position. Giuseppe Tornatore's
work speaks well of its creator.
Tornatore
has never been timid about casting inexperienced actors
or even non-professional ones. Here's what he had to say
about the subject when The Star Maker (filmed in places
like old Poggioreale) opened to rave reviews:
"Deciding
to cast a non-professional, or worse still, someone who
you don't even know if and where you'll find him or her,
is like asking the first person you come across to hold
onto your savings. You never know if you'll ever get your
money back. The search for non-professional actors has no
rule. It can be a question of feeling, or simply luck. It
can be fun or excruciating. During the shooting of The Star
Maker, one morning we were stuck because an actress hadn't
turned up on the set. We thought something had happened
to her and that she was delayed but would eventually arrive.
We didn't have an alternative shooting schedule. We were
in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere and it was impossible
to find another actress that could take her place. The missing
actress finally called. In tears, she told us that she had
unexpectedly been called by the Education Ministry for a
teaching job --I don't know where-- and if she missed the
interview, she would lose the opportunity of a permanent
position. She was terribly sorry but, between taking part
in a Tornatore film and a 'stable job' she had no doubt
which one to choose!"
About
the Author:
Michele Parisi, who presently resides in Rome, has written
for various magazines and newspapers in Italy, France and
the United Kingdom.
2001
Michele Parisi
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