Elena Sofia Ricci
- 2003
Italian filmmaker Salvatore Piscicelli writes and directs the psychological drama Alla Fine Della Notte (At the End of the Night). Depressed, middle-aged actor/director Bruno Spada (Ennio Fantastichini) goes on a journey in search of happiness. At his home in Rome, his own wronged wife Fiamma (Stefania Orsola Garello) rightfully wants to leave him due to his constant infidelity. He first goes to Tuscany in order to visit his ex-girlfriend Viola (Elena Sofia Ricci), but she has her own relationship problems with a Filippino man (Ricky Tognazzi) to deal with. In Naples, he reunites with his aunt (Ida Di Benedetto) and recollects his childhood memories. At the End of the Night was screened at the 2003 Taormina Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ennio Fantastichini, Elena Sofia Ricci, (more)
- 2001
Two couples straying from fidelity find themselves looking in the same direction in this comedy from Italy. Filippo (Alessandro Benvenuti) and Anna (Elena Sofia Ricci) are a married couple looking to spice up their relationship, and one night while they're drinking they spot Giulia (Micaela Ramazzotti), an attractive young woman. Filippo and Anna have never had a ménage à trois, but they're game to give it a try, and attempt to persuade Giulia to join them. However, Giulia is already making another marriage more interesting; she has been having an affair with Ugo (Ricky Tognazzi), who is not getting along with his wife Marcella (Giuppy Izzo). While Commedia Sexy does feature brief nudity, most of the sex is talked about rather than shown. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alessandro Benvenuti, Elena Sofia Ricci, (more)
He was a poor carpenter who never traveled further than 50 miles from his home and died at the age of 33, but his teachings changed the world and he's still followed by hundreds of millions of people around the world, 2,000 years after his death. Jesus, originally produced as a television mini-series, offers a glimpse of the human side of the messiah, as well as recounting the story of his life and martyrdom. Jeremy Sisto stars as Jesus, with Jacqueline Bisset as Mary, Armin Mueller-Stahl as Joseph, Gary Oldman as Pontius Pilate, and Debra Messing as Mary Magdalene. The home video release is expanded from the broadcast edition, featuring material that was cut for time purposes. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeremy Sisto, Jacqueline Bisset, (more)
- 1994
This surreal Italian comedy centers around the circular game of love. After Rosario, a depressed high-school teacher who recently lost his liberal political idealism and his hot-blooded wife Elena, a private detective, he begins to see the Virgin Mary. Apparently his visionary Mary is in love with him. Amelia, a co-worker, and Salvatore, his neighbor the gangster, are also in love with him. In despair, Rosario attempts suicide and fails.He decides that to experience the real world he must become a criminal. He steals a car, gets and gun and goes off the deep-end. He finds great rewards in his new shady life and is doubly rewarded when Elena finally returns. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Giuseppe Cederna, Elena Sofia Ricci, (more)
- 1994
Directed by Axel Corti and based on the German novel by Joseph Roth, Radetzkymarsch was a television miniseries originally broadcast in France. Taking place in Vienna, Austria, the story concerns the an aristocratic family right before the outbreak of WWI. Baron Franz Von Trotta (Max Von Sydow) is the son of a war hero who saved the Emperor's life. He was raised in royalty under the Emperor's care and not allowed to join the army himself, so he pressures his son, Carl Joseph (Tilman Günther), to join the military. Carl Joseph is weak and wants no part of the armed forces, but soon WWI breaks out and lessens his chance for escape. Also starring Gert Voss as Chojnicki, Claude Rich as Dr. Demant, and Charlotte Rampling as Valerie von Taussig. Features a score by Poland's leading contemporary film composer, Zbigniew Preisner. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max von Sydow, Tilman Gunther, (more)
- 1993
The second word in the title to this film, Stefano Quantestorie harkens to the parental rebuke given to children who concoct fabulous tales to account for their little misdeeds: how many stories will you tell me? In this peculiar, comic film, all the stories are about Stefano (Maurizio Nichetti), and recount possible lives he might have had, or has had, or experiences he has had, or might have had. Eventually, the Stefanos begin to pile up in places, and Stefanos from one episode interact with wives or lovers Stefano has had in another one. It is impossible to describe why such confusion is at all watchable, especially when so many similar movies have been disastrous, but good acting throughout and thoughtful direction won this film a place in several reviewer's hearts, and it was well-received both in Italy and elsewhere. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maurizio Nichetti, Amanda Sandrelli, (more)
- 1987
Carlo (Carlo Verdone) is a responsible sibling who deals with his black-sheep sister Silvia (Ornella Muti) in this situation comedy. When Silvia returns after many years to attend her mother's funeral, Carlo deals with the fallout caused by her many love affairs. Carlo is convinced to kidnap Silvia's child whom she left in a Hungarian children's home, but she soon abandons Carlo and the baby when she takes up with a British rock star. Elena Sofia Ricci co-stars with Sebastiano Balaw in this hilarious homecoming. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carlo Verdone, Ornella Muti, (more)
- 1987
In this uneven drama, Walter Ferrari (Ugo Tognazzi) is an Italian soccer coach fired on the eve of the playoffs by club President Di Carlo (Lino Capolicchio). He overcomes his feelings of bitterness in order to help his former club win the big game, but his relationship with the team and his family becomes strained after his dismissal. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ugo Tognazzi, Lino Capolicchio, (more)
- 1985
In this understated drama by director and co-writer Pupi Avati, the life-changing events that sweep through an office of nondescript bank workers may be minor in the scheme of a greater cosmos, but they have a major impact on everyone involved. The story is told through the eyes of Luigi (Claudio Botosso), just out of college and starting work at the bank as a new recruit. Luigi is shy enough to seem aloof at the beginning, but he quickly gets into the rhythm of office politics, at least as much as his still-reserved personality allows. Luigi would like to go out with Annalisa (Elena Sofia Ricci) but the attractive woman has chosen his former roommate Dario (Dario Parisini) instead. Meanwhile, Luigi is getting an introduction into the small and often corrupt and profligate society around him; women seem willing to bed down with whomever -- though not with him -- and they even get drunk at parties. Older men are chasing women who are their employees, the haves are not interested in associating with the have-nots, and even the rich cannot always get into -- and stay in -- the clubs that define an elite strata. As relationships come and go, one of the more unscrupulous workers is finally discharged, but not before a scandal erupts. And tragedy also lies waiting in the wings -- leaving Luigi with a lot of life experience in a very brief period of time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudio Botosso, Luca Barbareschi, (more)
