Why you can trust 12DOVE Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.
A narrator recalls his turbulent childhood in small-town Sicily during World War Two, and in particular the impact of a woman on his development. The unobtainable object of his desire is Malèna (Monica Bellucci), a young widow whose beauty arouses the envy - and hatred - of the locals. The young Renato (Guiseppe Sulfaro) takes every chance to gaze at Malèna, but can't stop her tragic demise...
Wildly uneven, this glossy melodrama from Cinema Paradiso director Giuseppe Tornatore begins as a bawdy portrayal of teenage infatuation - - cue farcical scenes of furious masturbation - - before turning into a denunciation of Fascist-era bigotry.
The Morricone score and the sun-drenched cinematography are designed to stir the senses, but unfortunately the fetishistic treatment of Bellucci, whose character is practically mute and frequently disrobed, suggests an element of sexual exploitation on the part of the film-makers.
Dev behind one of 2024's best indie horror games celebrates 1 million soundtrack streams on Spotify: "I can buy like two hot dogs with the revenue"
Dragon Quest 3 remake producer wants Final Fantasy 6 to get the HD-2D treatment because it has "the highest quality pixel art"
James Gunn says "more than one" potentially R-rated DC projects are currently in the works: "Whatever is worthy of the story"
