Mariano Rigillo Movies
- 2008
As directed and co-written by Denis Rabaglia, this deeply whimsical coming-of-age tale unfurls in Italy, circa 1956, on the picturesque island of Amatrello. In this locale, a most unusual custom has emerged - one where each father determines his daughter's premier romantic liaison by soliciting elaborate presents from local suitors and picking the most impressive one. A local boy named Marcello scoffs at this notion until he lays eyes on Elena, bewitching daughter of the mayor of Amatrello - and realizes that his only chance of winning her heart lies in offering the Mayor the most impressive gift imaginable - a neighbor's pet rooster that will wake the Mayor, regularly, every morning. Unfortunately, to lay claim to this prized bird, Marcello must barter with nearly everyone in the village, and it seems that each resident has a different request. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Francesco Mistichelli, Elena Cucci, (more)
- 2007
As adapted from the roman by Antonia Arslan and co-directed by legendary Italian brothers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, The Lark Farm marks one of the few international features to tackle the Armenian genocide head-on. The story (with its thematic parallels, in the early scenes, to De Sica's 1970 Garden of the Finzi-Continis) concerns the Avakian clan. An Armenian family living an affluent lifestyle and periodically shuttling back and forth between their two comfortable homes, the Avakians feel convinced that the rising tide of Turkish hostility on the horizon means little to them and will scarcely affect their day to day. Indeed, The Avakians ignore the warning signs, and set about preparing for a family reunion with the impending visit of two well-to-do sons - landowner Aram, who resides in Turkey, and Assadour, a physician living in Venice. Lo and behold, these illusions come crashing down when a Turkish military regiment crops up at the house, annihilates every male member of the family and forces the ladies to trek off into the Syrian desert, where they will be left to rot. Meanwhile, a handsome Turkish officer (Alessandro Preziosi) falls for Aram's daughter and makes an aggressive attempt to deliver her and her family from certain death, even as the circumstances surrounding him attest to the astounding difficulty of this goal. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paz Vega, Arsinée Khanjian, (more)
- 1996
This romantic Italian drama tells the offbeat love story of a somewhat senile but still feisty elderly American lady who escapes from the nursing home where her children put her and a world-weary private investigator who finds her on the road. The American, Martha, has lived in Tuscany for most of her adult life and still speaks no Italian. She moved there after she inherited a house from her grandfather. Having been divorced at a young age, she raised her children in the house. After they grew up, she became increasingly obsessed with the place. This coupled with her sudden memory lapses convinced her children that she would be better off in a home. The gumshoe she meets is 25 years younger. A specialist in investigating infidelity, he meets her while trailing a pair of illicit lovers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
In this remake of the 1983 Ardiente Paciencia by Antonio Skarmeta, the time and place have been changed to Italy in the 1950s, but the relationship between the Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda and Mario (Massimo Troisi), the postman who delivers his copious mail, is still the focus of attention. In this version of the story, scripted by a collective of Anna Pavignano, the director Michael Radford, Troisi himself, and a few others (based on Skarmeta's original story), Neruda is an aloof and slightly elitist figure who is seeking solitude on an island off the coast of Italy, taking a respite from political problems at home. Mario is a poet at heart and employs every measure he is capable of inventing to win his way into the affections and attention of the great author. As his efforts start to bear fruit and Neruda unbends and begins to share conversation and philosophy with Mario, the postman idolizes the poet all the more. Eventually, Neruda shares his leftist political philosophy as well -- and helps him win over the captivating Beatrice, the woman of Mario's dreams. When Neruda leaves, Mario enters into high gear as he prepares material for the next time he sees Neruda -- his ardor and patience, alluded to in the original title -- are essentially indestructible. (Massimo Troisi) was fated never to know that Il Postino would receive worldwide acclaim and be nominated for an Oscar for "Best Picture" in 1995 (the first foreign film nominated in that category since Ingmar Bergman's Cries and Whispers 22 years earlier). Suffering from a heart ailment and unable to work more than an hour or two on the filming of Il Postino each day, he died in his sleep at the age of 41, the day after shooting ended on the film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Massimo Troisi, Philippe Noiret, (more)
- 1972
Set in the time of Garibaldi's revolutionary efforts to free and unify Italy (1860s), this Italian film brings to the screen the story of a Sicilian participant in the town of Bronte. The story pits two kinds of revolutionaries against one another: idealists, and land-grabbers. When the townspeople execute their local rulers, Garibaldi sends a general to restore order. Ironically, the ones arrested and punished are the moderates who were against the slayings. This film was shot on location in Yugoslavia rather than Sicily. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
