Riccardo de Torrebruna Movies
Fuori Dal Mondo/Not of This World tells a story about people learning to deal with their responsibilities and follow their true path in life. Caterina (Margherita Buy) is a novice nun who is soon to take her vows. One day, while taking a walk in the park, she discovers a newborn baby which has been wrapped in a sweater. While Caterina immediately turns the child over to the proper authorities, she feels compelled to find out more about the baby and its parents. A tag on the sweater leads her to Ernesto (Silvio Orlando), a mean-spirited type who operates a dry cleaning shop. Ernesto eventually admits that he may be the child's father, and, as he and Caterina get to know each other, he begins to open up and realize the importance of accepting his responsibilities. Similarly, Caterina begins to realize her desire to have a child of her own, and her growing attraction to Ernesto, may mean a life in the church may not be right for her. Meanwhile, the child's mother has to deal with her guilt and confusion, her unhappy relationship with her family, and her need to build a new and healthier life for herself. Fuori Dal Mondo/Not of This World marks the fourth collaboration between actress Margherita Buy and director Giuseppe Piccioni. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margherita Buy, Silvio Orlando, (more)
Told in flashback, the film relates Francis of Assisi's evolution from rich man's son to religious humanitarian and eventually to full-fledged saint. Francesco was based on Hermann Hesse's Francis of Assisi, which director Liliana Cavani had previously filmed in 1966. The Saint and founder of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor is played by Mickey Rourke, and his inspiration, the woman who later became Saint Clare, is played by Helena Bonham Carter. Raised as the pampered son of a merchant, Francis goes off to war only to return with a profound horror for the society which generated such suffering. In one scene, as an act of renunciation, he strips himself of his fine clothing in front of his father and leaves the house naked and barefoot, joining the lepers and beggars in the poor section of town. The film follows with a series of episodes from the saint's life rather than a coherent narrative, following up until his final days when he receives the stigmata, or wounds similar to those on the body of Jesus at the crucifixion. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Rourke, Helena Bonham Carter, (more)
- 1987
This bloody, slow-moving occult horror film was directed by Marcello Avallone (Maya). The plot concerns an archaeological dig outside of Rome, where Donald Pleasence unearths a monstrous demon (created by effects-guru Sergio Stivaletti). Murder scenes are swiped from A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Night Has 1000 Eyes and the gore is well-handled, but the demon is rarely shown, and the first hour leading up to all the mayhem is a talky bore. Screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti has written over 150 films, including most of the best Italian horror movies of the last quarter-century, but he fumbled the ball with this one. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Pepper, Katrine Michelsen, (more)
Adapted from Mario Puzo's novel, The Sicilian is an attempt to chronicle the life and times of Mafia leader, patriot and real-life Robin Hood Salvatore Giuliano, the infamous bandit who, together with his rag-tag band of guerillas, attempted to liberate 1940s Sicily from Italian rule and make it an American state. Giuliano (Christopher Lambert) robs from the rich conservative landowners to give to the poor, serf-like peasants, who in turn hail him as their savior. As his popularity grows, so does his ego, and he eventually thinks he is above the power of his backer, Mafia Don Masino Croce (Joss Ackland). The Don, in turn, sets out to kill the upstart by convincing his cousin and closest advisor Gaspare (John Turturro) to assassinate him. Nearly thirty minutes of screen time were haphazardly hacked off director Michael Cimino's original cut by the studio. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lambert, Terence Stamp, (more)
- 1986
Excellent camerawork and good direction do their best to enhance this erstwhile comedy about subverting Norway's liquor laws in a most unusual manner. Vincenzo (Riccardo de Torrebruna) runs an Italian restaurant in Oslo and dies in a most unfortunate way. The country's laws had driven him to convert his fine restaurant into a nightclub that sells liquor illegally, inadvertently leading to his death. Vincenzo's brother (Patricio Caracchi) shows up from Italy seeking revenge for his brother's death and after joining up with like-minded friends, he plots a dastardly subversion of the city's laws and of its milk supply. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Riccardo de Torrebruna, Anne-Marie Ottesen, (more)
Bearing no particular relation to any literary or cinematic work of the same title, this erotic drama by Marco Bellocchio uses sexual expression to work out a character's hang-ups, problems, and personality. Andrea (Federico Ptizalis) is in his last year of high school when he meets Giulia (Maruschka Detmers). Her father was killed by terrorists, yet Giulia is engaged to marry a former terrorist who is released from prison after he names names. After Andrea and Giulia meet, they have some torrid sexual encounters, though Giulia continues her engagement to the ex-terrorist because her wealthy family opposes any liaison with the lower-class Andrea. Mixed in with Giulia's two love affairs are several odd characters, such as the former terrorist's mother. No one is particularly stable, least of all Giulia. This film was released in the United States in both R and X-rated versions, the latter featuring a brief but explicit oral sex scene. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maruschka Detmers, Federico Pitzalis, (more)
