Athina Cenci Movies
- 2000
In this period drama set in Venice in the 18th century, Cornelia (Chiara Muti) is a countess who is soon to be married. Her parents have sent her away to the family's summer home in the country, in hopes of keeping quiet the fact that Cornelia is pregnant after a brief affair with a man other than her fiancé. Cornelia's parents hire a local peasant girl, Rosa (Stefania Rocca), to keep an eye on Cornelia; as it turns out, she's also pregnant, and soon the two women realize they have far more in common than they would have imagined at first. They also discover Cornelia's family has plans for her that aren't as benign as she's been led to believe, and together Cornelia and Rosa make plans to win their freedom. Rosa e Cornelia was adapted from a play by Remo Binosi. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stefania Rocca, Chiara Muti, (more)
- 1998
This Italian comedy focuses on a hapless half-dozen actors once exploited by their friend Alessio (Alessandro Benvenuti) who used their experiences in his hit play, My Dearest Friends. However, since they weren't cast in the production, they didn't share in the play's success, and friendship quickly turned to hate. Now, 15 years later, the impoverished six arrive at a medieval castle where they've been invited by Alessio, who explains that he would like to make amends with a new performance in which they will portray themselves. As rehearsals get underway, so do various plans for revenge. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alessandro Benvenuti, Eva Robin's, (more)
- 1996
Italy's favorite dysfunctional family returns to their small-town home in Tuscany to mourn the passing of Adele, who watches over the mournful festivities as the family pays their respects and prepares for her funeral. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Taken from a best-selling Italian novel that achieved cult status amongst the country's youth, Jack Frusciante Left the Band (the title name refers to an early member of the American alternative rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers who left after the group became successful) follows the typically tumultuous first-love of a young college boy attending university in Bologna. When not studying, bright, handsome Alex plays punk rock in a band with his rollicking chums until he falls in love with the introverted but sensitive Aidi. She cares for him too, but is afraid of commitment so that when things get too heavy she brushes him off by reminding him that she is slated to spend a year studying in the US. Alex consoles himself by spending time with the self-destructive Martino while Aidi glumly hangs out with her shallow girl friends. Time passes and eventually the young lovers reestablish communications. At last finding true closeness, their relationship is torn apart when Martino kills himself. It is only then that Alex is able to accept Aidi's impending departure. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
In Fiorile (US title: Wild Flower), Italy's Taviani brothers once again dissect the manners and mores of the Tuscany region. The story is predicated on a 200-year-old family curse. During the Napoleonic era, Elizabetta "Fiorile" Benedetti (Galatea Ranzi) discovers that her own brother Corado (Claudio Bigagli) is responsible for the crime for which her lover Jean (Michael Vartan) was executed. The embittered Fiorile places a curse on the Benedetti family, declaring that none of her brother's direct descendants will ever achieve true happiness. Over the next two centuries, the Benedettis' ill-gotten wealth increases, but they lose the love and respect of their neighbors. In fact, most people prefer to call the Benedetti family the "Maledettis," or the Cursed Ones. The film's final episode occurs during World War II, as Grandpa Massimo Benedetti (Renato Carpentieri), the last family member directly affected by the curse, relates his tale of woe to a pair of youngsters. Will the curse die with Massimo, or will the innocent young ones be forced to carry it into the next generation? Fiorile is not the sort of movie one sits back and relaxes with, despite its leisurely pace; those willing to work with the film, however, will be amply rewarded. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudio Bigagli, Galatea Ranzi, (more)
- 1993
- R
Marco (Claudio Bigagli) is an insurance adjuster who must travel all over Tuscany in order to investigate and settle claims put through by his firm's various branches. This brings in a tidy sum of money, and he has every reason to expect that he will continue to prosper in his work. He manages quite successfully to organize every event in his own life, but he can't manage the lives of others. His tidy and reasonably satisfying world comes unglued when his mother's extramarital affair causes dissension between her and his father. The tidiness of his life is also undone when his former girlfriend actually gets married, and his current girlfriend dumps him. Soon he is irritated even by his work, and then the real hysteria sets in. The only thing he can think to do is to opt out of having such a tidy, predictable, yuppiefied life, and this is what he does. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudio Bigagli, Gigio Alberti, (more)
- 1991
For many years, the Italian Communist party had a significant cachet as one of the few such organizations to survive for many decades largely independent of the influence of China and Russia's versions of communism. It had loyal and even fervent support from people in all walks of Italian life. However, times change, and after the end of the Cold War, the party was renamed the "Democratic Left" and began espousing considerably more centrist policies. This film takes place at a large rally for the newly reorganized party, where old and new feuds and resentments color the interactions of the many types of people present. In particular, a visiting politician encounters the harsh feelings of a young-ish woman who is also an old-guard leftist who deeply resents the changes in the party's direction. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alessandro Benvenuti, Athina Cenci, (more)
- 1990
In this earnest docudrama, ten episodes depicting the suffering arising out of drug-use are shown. In one story, a pharmacist working an overnight shift helps a boy through drug withdrawal. In another, a mother whose daughter is now free of drugs gives her a pair of valuable coral earrings as a celebratory gift. In another, an newborn is shown suffering from withdrawal: his mother was addicted throughout her pregnancy. Each scene illustrates some aspect of the travails of drug addiction, but never simplistically blames the victims alone for their plight. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Athina Cenci, Sergio Castellitto, (more)
- 1988
This children's drama centers around a funeral, questions of life after death, and the meaning of love. It tells the tale of two wealthy children, who have every thing but their parents' love, and their nanny. The nanny is instructed to take the kids to their uncle's funeral. There they ask questions about death. She gently explains that the dead go to heaven, a marvelous paradise where there is only love and light. The enchanted children begin pining to see this magical place. They begin experimenting with ways to get there. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudia Cardinale, Sara Triulzi, (more)
- 1988
In this very Italian comedy, the romantic lives of a group of 35 year old former high-school chums go through a series of dramatic changes in the course of a single evening at a reunion dinner party. The film's director Carlo Verdone plays Piero, a schoolteacher who has a frustrating relationship with his nagging wife and a tentative one with his student, Cristina (Natasha Hovey). Things gets complicated for Piero when both show up at the dinner. Hostess Federica (Nancy Brilli makes no secret of the fact that she's a rich man's mistress, hence the stunning villa where the party is held. Among the guests are a sleazy, third rate entertainer (Christian De Sica), a happily unwed mother (Luisa Maneri) and a psychologist forced to listen to everyone's problems (Athena Cenci). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carlo Verdone, Nancy Brilli, (more)
- 1988
Millionaire Volpone (Paolo Villaggio) recruits his new butler Mosca (Enrico Montesano) to fool three heirs to the family fortune in this engaging comedy. Gathering around the deathbed, the potential heirs compete for favors of Volpone. One man offers the keys to his Maserati, a married friend offers his beautiful wife and the local mayor (Eleanora Giorgi) for a final night of passion, and another signs over his luxury yacht, hoping it will be returned by Volpone after his death. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paolo Villaggio, Enrico Montesano, (more)
- 1987
- PG
A family history is recalled by the venerable patriarch Carlo (Vittorio Gassman) as he prepares to celebrate his 80th birthday. Young Carlo (Andrea Massimo) marries Beatrice (Stefania Sandrelli) in 1926 but later has an illicit affair with her bohemian artist sister Adriana (Fanny Ardant). Fascism, World War II, and the raising of children and grandchildren mark the passing of a lifetime. Old Carlo lives with his grandson where his recollections are interrupted by the gentle nagging of his beloved Beatrice. This feature received an Oscar nomination in 1987 for "Best Foreign Film." ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Fanny Ardant, (more)
- 1987
After her boyfriend leaves her for another woman, the drama student in this film discovers some dark, forbidding areas to her sensual inner needs while in class. Later, she engages in a couple of odd, disjointed sexual encounters. Before long, however, she has formed a tentative liaison with a biker, but the memory of her past relationships prevents her from being wholehearted about it. The same situation applies to the biker, who has been burned more than a few times. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mariella Valentini, Claudio Bisio, (more)
- 1986
Athina Cenci stars in a double role in this gag-filled comedy about the lives of shallow Italian yuppies who live the high-life -- golfing, playing polo and driving around in their Ferraris. Lorenzo (Massimo Baldo) is a harried husband who is thrown out by his wife (Cenci). Lorenzo goes further into the doghouse when he mistakes Athina's sister the nun for his wife. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Calà, Christian de Sica, (more)
- 1985
Originally titled Speriamo che sia Femmina, Let's Hope It's a Girl is a multifaceted exploration of the pointlessness of sexual stereotypes. Liv Ullmann is a countess who, after her divorce, takes over the family farm. Realizing that she can't rely on the patriarchal society structure for assistance, Ullmann runs the farm herself with the help of her female servants and relatives. When the Count (Philipe Noiret) comes back into her life, he and his male buddies find themselves outclassed by the expertise of the ladies. The flawless cast of Let's Hope It's A Girl includes Catherine Deneuve and Bernard Blier, the latter superb as a doddering old nobleman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liv Ullmann, Catherine Deneuve, (more)
