Malena
A lonely Sicilian widow becomes the object of a boy’s first desire and a town’s cruelest judgments during World War II.
Overview
A poignant tale of beauty and longing set against the backdrop of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- nostalgic
- wistful
- sensuous
- reflective evening
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film beautifully crafted and evocative but limited by its objectification of Malèna, thin characterization, and uneven thematic depth.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Renato's fascination with Malèna structures the audience's access to her beauty, loneliness, and treatment by the Sicilian community.
Malèna is judged and ostracized because of her beauty while her husband is presumed dead and wartime pressures intensify.
The film evokes wartime Sicily through its town life, streets, costumes, architecture, and vividly composed images.
Renato experiences longing for Malèna as part of his transition from childhood toward adolescent self-awareness.
Films like Malena, and why
Amarcord
shared adolescent sexual awakening, nostalgic period setting, comic observation, and bittersweet maturation
Cinema Paradiso
shared italian period drama atmosphere, small-town social observation, wistful nostalgia, and coming-of-age perspective
The Last Picture Show
shared young male desire, idealized female figure, postwar provincial setting, and melancholic self-discovery
The Piano
shared erotic obsession, stylized period atmosphere, and critique of how communities punish women for desire and beauty
Movie Details
- Director
- Giuseppe Tornatore
- Release Date
- 2000-10-27
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (2840)
Cast
- Monica Bellucci
- Giuseppe Sulfaro
- Luciano Federico
- Matilde Piana
- Pietro Notarianni
- Gaetano Aronica
- Gilberto Idonea
- Angelo Pellegrino
- Gabriella Di Luzio
- Pippo Provvidenti
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Malena about?
- A lonely Sicilian widow becomes the object of a boy’s first desire and a town’s cruelest judgments during World War II.
- What is Malena like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Malena as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Malena violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Malena as mild.
- What did critics think of Malena?
- Critics broadly found the film beautifully crafted and evocative but limited by its objectification of Malèna, thin characterization, and uneven thematic depth.
- Which films are like Malena?
- Films with a similar feel include Amarcord, Cinema Paradiso, The Last Picture Show, and The Piano.
- How long is Malena?
- Malena runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Malena?
- In United States, Malena is available to rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
