Malèna (2000)
Label: Imprint Films
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: M
Duration: 108 Minutes 5 Seconds
Audio: Audio Italian DTS-HD 5.1 Surround with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.35:1)
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Cast: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico
Director Giuseppe Tornatore's (Cinema Paradiso) erotic coming of age story Malèna takes place in the seemingly quaint seaside Sicilian village of Castelcuto, it's there that a teenage boy named Renato (Giuseppe Sulfaro) is coming of age during a tumultuous period in history, Italy has just entered World War II, and the young man is a super-charged with influx of hormones, newly obsessed with the village's most beautiful and sensual citizen, Malèna, played by the gorgeously curvaceous Monica Bellucci (Irreversible), a recent war widow whose magnetic allure earns her unending lustful leers from every man, and the scorn of every woman.
Renato is not just enamored with her, he is full-on unhealthfully obsessed with her, following her around town on his bicycle by day, at by night brazenly peeping on her through the second story window in her home. He even steals a pair of her panties from a laundry line which he makes use of during his nightly masturbatory fantasies, presented here as black and white sequences that lovingly homage classic cinema, with lifts from Tarzan the Ape Man (1932), Jane Eyre (1934), Cleopatra (1934), The Last Days of Pompeii (1935) and Stagecoach (1939). These are loving recreated starring Renato and the woman of his desires, and have been heavily edited from U.S. home video versions of the film.
Up against this coming-of-age story is that of Malena, though her story is much more as an object than an actual character, and while there's anti-fascist subtext to be gleaned the more I re-watch this film the more I believe it's an sex-comedy dressed up in period arthouse drag, more along the lines of The Last American Virgin and Porky's than anything else with Renato's burgeoning lust leading to misadventure by way of beating from his father, getting a handjob from the village prostitute at the cinema, and his poor mother thinking he's become possessed by demons, but his more sensible father realizing that the only demons he is possessed of is the lustful kind, and he ends up taking his underage boy to the brothel to pop his cherry during an air raid, with the brothel's madame noting "tonight we either die in a bombing or end up in jail".
Malèna's story is much darke, once her husband has been declared a war casualty and her father dies in air raid she is left penniless, without family or friends she turns to prostitution to support herself, sleeping with the German soldiers occupying the village. After the Allied forces arrive to free the village the other women take out their long-seeded jealousy on her, viciously beating her bloody as the men who once lusted after her remain silent, sheering off her hair and forcing her out to leave the village while a horrified Renato watches helplessly, but also not voicing his opposition. The two halves of the story make for an somewhat odd pairing but ultimately I the film is quite a satisfying watch. Tornatore's penchant for nostalgia tinged Spielbergian movie-magic moments is undeniable and welcomed, aided and abetted by the unnatural beauty of Bellucci and a gorgeous score by Ennio Morricone.
Audio/Video: Malèna (2000) arrives on region-free Blu-ray from Imprint Films in 1080p HD widescreen (1.85:1) widescreen, fully uncut and advertised as being sourced from "2K scan of the Original Uncut Italian Version". There's no other information about the master used for this release, and it might be safe to assume that what we are getting is an older HD master prepared for previous release. I've previously only seen Malèna in the cinema over 20 years ago and then again via the 2000 Korean DVD edition from Spectrum, and the improvement is much appreciated. The source is in terrific shape, there are no blemishes to distract the eye and grain is well-managed, but not as finely resolved as a newer 4K scan from the OCN would have offered. There looks like a slight bit of unobtrusive grain-management in some scenes, but overall I thought it looked fine. The amber-colored light of that bathes the film looks terrific, and the warm and nostalgic visuals of the Sicilian seaside village are very pleasing, and black levels are quite nice with solid shadow detail. The 1080p offers pleasing textures of clothing and cobblestone streets, close-ups of skin and facial features have natural looking skin tones with some pleasing skin textures. It's not HD perfection coming from a older HD master but it is a significant upgrade over the DVD. The sole audio option is English DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround with optional English subtitles. The source is in great shape and the Italian dialogue sounds great, the biggest benefactor here is the gorgeous score from the late legend Ennio Morricone (Cinema Paradiso) which is nicely full-bodied.
We only get archival extras from previous releases but I appreciate that they are carried over here, we get the 53-min The Life & Dream of Giuseppe Tornatore (2000) Documentary, an 11-min Making of Malena (2000) featurette. a 35-min Backstage Featurette with tons of behind-the-scenes footage, a 9-min Interview with Giuseppe Tornatore, the 23-min From Cinema Paradiso to Malena: Interview with Giuseppe Tornatore and Ennio Morricone, the 22-min In Studio - Recording the Score, offering behind-the-scenes footage of the score being recorded, plus a selection of Trailers and TV Spots.
The single-disc release arrives in a high quality clear keepcase with a two-sided, non-reversible sleeve of artwork, with a Limited Edition Slipcover and a wrap with unique artwork, all featuring the gorgeous Monica Bellucci. The slip features the original movie poster artwork, while the wrap features a pretty stunning image. Remember, this limited edition slipcase edition is strictly limited to 1500 units, so don't hesitate if this is one your looking to get at.
Special Features:
- 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray from a 2K scan of the Original Uncut Italian Version
- The Life & Dream of Giuseppe Tornatore (2000) Documentary (52:57)
- Making of Malena (2000) Documentary (11:03)
- Backstage featurette (35:26)
- Interview with Giuseppe Tornatore (9:15)
- From Cinema Paradiso to Malena: Interview with Giuseppe Tornatore and Ennio Morricone (22:30)
- In Studio - Recording the Score (21:54)
- Trailers (1:34)
- TV Spots (1:36)
- Limited Edition slipcase on the first 1500 copies with unique artwork
Screenshots from the Imprint Films Blu-ray:
