Barbora Bobulova Movies
Raised in a Catholic orphanage in provincial France, young Coco Chanel never imagined that her life would one day become an epic story worthy of a Lifetime original movie, full of passionate romance, and trailblazing pioneering in the world of fashion. The movie opens on 1950's Paris, as a 70 year old Coco (Shirley MacClaine), now a household name, is embarking on the second wave of her career with her first new collection in over a decade. Soon, a series of flashbacks illustrate how she got to be where she is today, both personally and professionally. Young Coco (played by Barbora Babulova) is seen working tirelessly as a seamstress, showing a unique talent for making garments more flattering and convenient despite her lowly position. Pursued by a rich man named Étienne, she soon leaves the thankless job for the comfort of life as a kept woman, but class differences eventually tear them apart. The relationship gives Coco the chance to perfect her skill as a hatmaker, however, and she leaves Etienne to open her own shop. A new romance with an Englishman named Arthur (known affectionately as "Boy") soon blossoms, and proves to be the greatest happiness and greatest tragedy of her life - but will the effects of this epic tale of love, war, and betrayal eventually prevent the burgeoning fashion maverick from fulfilling her true potential? ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shirley MacLaine, Barbora Bobulova, (more)
- 2007
Italy during the latter days of Benito Mussolini's rule provides the background for this historical drama of divided loyalties during a time of war. Francesco (Michele Placido) is a police detective working in Rome as fascist Black Shirts hold sway over the nation. Francesco has been assigned to investigate the death of Costantina (Barbora Bobulova), a streetwalker who is believed to have been murdered while allied forces were bombing the city. As Francesco interviews those who knew Costantina, including her twin sister, he gains a new perspective on the bitter rivalry between Salo fascists and partisans loyal to Italy's pre-fascist heritage; Francesco also sees a bit of this conflict in his own home as his brother Ettore (Alessandro Preziosi) defends the partisans against the fascist leanings of his sister Lucia (Alina Nedelea). The Blood of the Victims (aka Il sangue dei vinti) proved controversial in Italy for its defense of fascism under Mussolini, portraying the majority of his supporters as patriots acting in support of their nation. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michele Placido, Barbora Bobulova, (more)
- 2006
Writer-director Kim Rossi-Stuart helms and stars in the relentlessly disturbing Italian-language domestic drama Libero, from a script he co-penned with Federico Starnone, Linda Ferri and Francesco Giammusso. The story opens on a household in Rome, where single father Renato (Stuart) juggles responsibilities in his job as a cinematographer with his paternal obligations, which involve raising his son and daughter: teenager Viola (Marta Nobili) and primary schooler Tommi (Alessandro Morace). His valiant attempts in both areas, however, do little to compensate for his mercurial temper and sudden, vitriolic explosions of rage. The outbursts soon take their toll on both children; Viola delves into a rich adolescent fantasy world, while Tommi - more disturbingly - drifts into self-destruction (with suicidal walks along rooftop edges) and juvenile delinquency (slingshot attacks, directed at the neighbors). He fares little better at school, grappling with a newfound infatuation on a female classmate that he has difficulty expressing appropriately, and backwardness around his male peers. The story takes an unexpected twist when the mother of the family, Stefania (Barbora Bobulovi) returns, but her arrival reignites marital problems with Renato. Moreover, the latter's income declines sharply as he is fired from one job after another for irrational rants - further taking its toll on everyone. Libero marks the directorial debut of Rossi-Stuart, an established actor in Italian films. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alessandro Morace, Kim Rossi Stuart, (more)
- 2004
A convict and the girl who occasionally comes to play Scrabble with him form a curious connection in this drama from director Stefano Pasetto. As they sit on opposite sides of the game board, the pair gradually finds their conversation drifting into the past. The outside world is only an illusion, and neither have much interest in following the social norms that define that world. While she is a student of medicine who dabbled in many careers before qualifying, he has always found solace in photography. They met on the metro, where he would stare at her back daydreaming and she would bask in the warmth of his gaze. Eventually, fate brought them together. Later, a fleeting moment of happiness is followed by an unexpected split and both begin to understand the true meaning of destiny. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fabrizio Rongione, Barbora Bobulova, (more)
Casual voyeurism grows into an obsession in this low-key thriller from Italy. Valeria (Barbora Bobulova) works as an interpreter in Turin and shares an apartment with a friend, though she seems wary of close relationships with others. One of Valeria's windows looks into the flat of Massimo (Andrea Renzi), and she finds herself watching him as he goes about his daily business. Her curiosity begins to evolve into something deeper when Massimo knocks on her door, hoping she can help him with his dog, who is ill. Not long afterward, Massimo moves to Rome, and Valeria follows him, where she discovers he has a girlfriend, Flavia (Brigitte Catillon). As Valeria pursues Massimo from a distance, she also strikes up a friendship with Flavia, and as Massimo begins to develop a deeper interest in Valeria, it leads to a strange emotional triangle between the three. La Spettatrice received its North American premiere at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbora Bobulova, Brigitte Catillon, (more)
- 2001
A young woman who has mastered the strategies of the chess board finds it doesn't always help her in the real world in this drama from Italy. Maria (Barbara Bobulova) is a teenaged chess expert who displays an ease and assurance in the game that she lacks in her life. Maria works closely with Sterlizia (Tony Bertorelli), a chess coach who has been tutoring her in the game for some time, though Emilio (Ettore Bassi), a journalist working on a story about Maria, is convinced that their relationship is more abusive than mutually beneficial. As Emilio follows Maria while she plays a series of important matches against Italy's reigning chess champion, the girl receives some startling news -- she was adopted. She soon sets out to find out the identity of her birth parents. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbora Bobulova, Toni Bertorelli, (more)
War turns two strangers into lovers at a most inopportune moment in this made-for-TV drama based on a true story. Eric Newby (Callum Blue) is a British soldier, who, while on a mission behind enemy lines during World War II, is captured by Axis troops and taken to a makeshift P.O.W. camp located in an abandoned orphanage in Italy. Eric is able to escape easily enough, but soon discovers that German troops are blanketing the area, determined to capture the prisoners who've gotten away. Wanda (Barboura Bonulova), a woman living in a nearby village, takes in the runaway and saves his life by hiding him from the Germans. In order to help Eric disguise himself as a villager, Wanda begins teaching him how to speak Italian; as they spend more time together, Eric and Wanda find themselves falling in love, but the war that brought them together could also tear them apart at any moment. Adapted from Eric Newby's memoirs of his wartime experiences, In Love and War was first aired as part of the award-winning anthology series The Hallmark Hall of Fame. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Callum Blue, Barbora Bobulova, (more)
- 2000
Algerian-born filmmaker Rachid Benhadj directs this bleak drama about the aftermath of wartime rape. Set in an unidentified Balkan nation, the film focuses on ruff, world-weary Kalsan (Vanessa Redgrave), who heads an isolated mountain farm with her 24-year-old soon-to-be-married granddaughter Elena. Their world is turned inside out with the appearance of 10-year-old Mirka (Karim Benhadj), a foreign child looking for his mother. Soon Elena realizes that the child is actually hers, reopening old wounds. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbora Bobulova, Gérard Depardieu, (more)
- 1998
Darker undertones infiltrate this lightweight Italian romantic comedy, as a troubled young man's fancy turns to obsession and jealousy. While most of his friends are eagerly preparing to graduate from high school, Matteo realizes that his poor grades are going to hold him back unless he can devise a plan to radically alter his records. His buddy Piterone has the same problem. Matteo's depression lifts when he meets the free-spirited, slightly older artist Margherita and falls in love. She seems to return his affection, and the youth eagerly moves into her studio apartment. At first Matteo is happy, but as time passes, he begins discovering small signs around the place that imply that his beloved has not only had an active past love-life, but that she may also be cheating on him. The more things he finds, the more suspicious Matteo becomes, and when suspicion becomes paranoid obsession, his relationship with Margherita begins to crumble. At the same time, Matteo and Pietrone attempt a desperate ploy to change their grades, an action that brings the story to its climax. The feature-film debut of documentary and television director Gabriele Muccino, Ecco Fatto competed in the 1998 Turin Film Festival. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Giorgio Pasotti, Barbora Bobulova, (more)
During the Thirty Years War between Germany and Sweden in the 1600s, a young prince must choose whether to continue to pursue his private fantasies of becoming a romantic hero or to face the public responsibilities and obligations of his position. The resulting tale is one part costume drama, one part adaptation of a classic verse play, two-parts psychological character study with a dash of love story thrown in for spice. It begins as the Prince of Homburg, who is in charge of Germany's calvary during the war, is caught sleepwalking in the midst of a disturbing dream. It is during the somnabulistic state that he first encounters the beautiful Natalia, the daughter of the powerful Grand Elector. He sees the girl again the next day before riding into battle against Swedish invaders. During the heat of the struggle, the impassioned prince disregards the Grand Elector's orders and leads a daring counterattack that results in victory. Though he saved the day, the Prince was wrong for disobeying his superior and the Grand Elector has no choice but to order his execution. Terrified of death, the Prince begs for his life. Touched, the Elector grants him clemency, but only on one condition: to stay alive, the Prince must publicly admit his wrongdoing. If he refuses, the death sentence will be carried out. Von Kleist's verse play was written in 1811 as a means of inspiring his countrymen to stand up against Napoleon and strongly advocates the notion that the most patriotic soldiers are those who blindly follow orders. Considering that Von Kleist's play was addressing German troops, that is a chilling notion indeed from a late 20th-century perspective. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andrea Di Stefano
