Vittorio Amandola Movies
- 2006
A young firebrand learns the hard way about the practical problems behind political assassination in this lavish period comedy. In 1814, with his reputation in tatters and his rule of France come to an inglorious end, Napoleon Bonaparte (Daniel Auteuil) flees to the Island of Elba, where his arrival causes no small stir among the citizens. However, not everyone is pleased with his presence; Martino (Elio Germano) is a young and idealistic schoolteacher who believes Napoleon turned his back on the ideals he fought for in the French Revolution, and doesn't hesitate to criticize the former Emperor in front of his students. When Martino isn't busy with his students, he attends to the romantic needs of the beautiful Baroness Emilia (Monica Bellucci), but she's powerless to help him when his controversial opinions about Elba's new arrival cause him to be fired. When Martino learns that Napoleon is in need of a personal secretary and librarian, he has a brainstorm -- if he can get the job, he'll be close enough to the former emperor to win his trust and then kill the despot when no one suspects. Martino is awarded the prestigious position, but once he gets to know Napoleon, the great man's charm and wit make it difficult for Martino to put his deadly plans into motion. N (Napoleon and Me) (aka N (Io E Napoleone) received its North American premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Auteuil, Elio Germano, (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)
- 2001
Having recently earned his college degree, Lorenzo Primavera (Eddie Malavarca) leaves his home in Boston to travel to his family's ancestral homeland in Italy -- as was requested by his late grandfather. Upon arriving, Lorenzo is offered a short-term position as coach for an American-style football team by the team's manager, Giulio Fellini (Maurizio Nichetti). As the young American immerses himself in his new duties, he makes the acquaintance of Paola Angelini (Violante Placido) and the two begin a friendship that quickly blossoms into something more. In between spending time with Paola and working with the team, Lorenzo also begins investigating his own family's history and learns the reason for his grandfather's departure from Italy, as well as why his grandfather never returned to visit. As Lorenzo begins to forge an identity for himself in Italy -- not to mention strong romantic attachments to Paola -- he must eventually decide whether or not to return to the States. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony DiNanno, Antonio Navarro, (more)
- 1999
Rolando Stefanelli directs this drama about Romano (Stefano Dionisi), a hard-drinking loser hailing from Rome. Without a penny and without many options, Romano accepts an offer to transport a large amount of hashish to Amsterdam for his buddy Italo (Vittorio Amandola). Needing an escort to make the sojourn look legitimate, Romano asks his girlfriend, but she steadfastly refuses. Out of desperation, he invites Alba (Chiara Caselli), who he had a turbulent two-year relationship with previously. Both quietly hope that they can make amends, but Romano's compulsive lying as to the true nature of the trip and his general lack of sobriety strains their relationship. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stefano Dionisi, Chiara Caselli, (more)
- 1990
In a small remote Caribbean island, where life appears to be one vast party, "the general" (Oliver Reed), a sinister American, hooks up with a corrupt local (Vittorio Amandola) who wants to transform the island into a big-deal tourist's gambling joint. Fortunately for the happy-go-lucky islanders, Panama (Scott Plank) has a plan to thwart this development plan which will leave them out in the cold, and with their help he convinces the general that there's hidden treasure on the island which will more than compensate him for the "finders fees" (bribes) he would have gotten from the developers. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Plank, Oliver Reed, (more)
- 1989
Caterina (Isabella Ferrari) grieves for her father who died in Brussels when British soccer fans from Liverpool rioted in 1985. In a vivid, reoccurring nightmare, she sees her father and sees the murderer administer the deadly blow. When she is visited by a Liverpool police inspector (John Steiner), he shows her pictures of suspects and points out the killer with absolute certainty. She drives her late father's car to Liverpool to seek vengeance in this uneven melodrama. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Isabella Ferrari, John Steiner, (more)
- 1989
- R
In this off-beat wartime drama, a young Italian soldier stationed in Ethiopia gets into deep trouble after a toothache compels him to set off in search of a dentist. He pauses at a desert oasis and sees a beautiful young woman bathing there. He loses control and rapes her. Afterward he feels bad and spends the entire evening with her. Unfortunately, during that time he hears a wild animal and fires a shot which ricochets off of a rock and mortally wounds the hapless girl. Unable to help her, the soldier shoots her in the head and then buries her body. As the soldier resumes his journey, a little time passes and he and his buddies see two natives wearing strange white garments, just like the poor girl he ravaged and killed. They are obviously pariahs and suddenly he realizes why--they are lepers and so was the girl! Soon the soldier discovers an open sore on his hand that will not heal. Believing that he too has the dread degenerative disease he suddenly remembers his family and fiancee in Italy and wants to see them desperately. Unfortunately, he cannot get home and so ends up seeking solace and forgiveness in the dead girl's native village. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicolas Cage, Ricky Tognazzi, (more)
- 1989
- PG
The Queen of Hearts is an essentially Italian story given full and proper treatment by a virtually all-British crew. Anita Zagaria plays a lovely Italian lass, consigned to an arranged marriage with a wealthy Sicilian man. She balks at the altar and runs off, while the jilted bridegroom swears revenge. She marries another Italian (Joseph Long), and together they set up the quaint "Lucky Cafe" in the middle of London. Though the family vendetta that results from this union has its unfortunate consequences, there are quite a few laughs along the way as well. The Queen of Hearts was directed by Jon Amiel, best known for his handling of the quirky TV serial The Singing Detective. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Duse, Joseph Long, (more)
