Emilio Bonucci Movies
- 2001
In this drama, Malena (Beatriz Spelzini) was born and raised in Argentina, where she fell victim to violence and abuse by government-backed right-wing forces. In time, Malena was able to escape to Italy, where she became involved with a group of political radicals and later married a man named Nanni (Emilio Bonucci). After the group became involved in a conspiracy to murder a judge, a few of their number informed on them to the police, and as a result several ended up behind bars. One of Malena's former associates, Roberto (Franco Castellano), has just been released from prison after serving 18 years for his part in the assassination plot. Roberto wants Malena to join him in a plan to get revenge against those who informed against him. Malena, however, is torn; all these years later, most of the former radicals (including the informers) are now respectable members of the community and she's loathe to disrupt their new lives, and while she feels a loyalty to Roberto, they were once lovers as well as comrades, which complicates matters in her relationship with Nanni. Riconciliati was shown in competition at the 2001 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Franco Castellano, Emilio Bonucci, (more)
- 1997
Elisabetta Lodoli made her feature directorial debut with this Italian drama, reminiscent of Michelangelo Antonioni's La Notte (1960). Successful biologist Elena (Luisa Passello) has a serious eating disorder. Elena and her husband Enrico (Emilio Bonucci), with their marriage collapsing, are staying at her late father's seaside villa when stewardess Ida (Iaia Forte), Elena's cousin, drops in for an extended visit. Despite their rivalry, Ida's unexpected visit could lead to a solution for Elena's eating problem. Shown at 1997 film festivals (Venice, Vancouver). ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Iaia Forte, Luisa Pasello, (more)
This romantic historical drama is based on the diaries of Agnes Von Kurowsky, who while serving as a nurse during World War I had a love affair with a young man who would later become one of the great literary figures of the 20th century, Ernest Hemingway. In 1918, 18-year-old Hemingway has volunteered to fight in the great war; while he goes into battle imagining it to be a lark, he soon discovers that the realities of warfare are far more grim, and during a shelling attack in Italy, his leg is severely wounded. Hemingway has taken a great deal of shrapnel, and the doctors at the field hospital decide that amputation would be the quickest and most effective way to deal with the injury. However, the idea of losing a leg horrifies Hemingway, and he pleads with Agnes (Sandra Bullock), the Austrian nurse looking after him, not to let the doctors cut off his limb. Moved by Hemingway's concern, Agnes convinces the doctors to pursue other treatments, and she looks after him during his long and difficult convalescence. Love and passion bloom between the young and naive soldier and the 26-year-old nurse, but while he's eager for her to return home with him as he follows his muse as a writer, she regards him not as the love of her life but as a passing fling and thinks that he's too young to marry. Agnes eventually sends Hemingway a "Dear John" letter; later Hemingway would use her as the basis for several characters in his novels and short stories, not always flatteringly. In Love and War was directed by Richard Attenborough, previously an Academy Award winner for Gandhi. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sandra Bullock, Chris O'Donnell, (more)
An unreleased suspense thriller from Italy's master of horror and fantasy, Mario Bava, Rabid Dogs makes its belated debut in this special DVD release. When a bank robbery goes awry for a pair of violent criminals, they take an innocent woman hostage, who must fight for her survival. Shot mostly inside a speeding car, this tense and claustrophobic drama was filmed in 1974 (five years before Bava's death), but shortly before completion the death of one of the principal financiers threw the project into limbo. In 1998, the film's elements were rediscovered and editing was completed using Bava's notes as a guide; the result is a film that takes a decidedly modern detour from Bava's traditional Gothic subject matter and gives a much broader perspective on the range of his talents. A few years later, the film was reworked and retitled Kidnapped for a brief theatrical run in the U.S. That version of the film would later be released on DVD by Anchor Bay, with the original, Rabid Dogs cut included as supplimental material. Curiously enough, the version of Rabid Dogs featured on the Kidnapped disc still differs from the version of the film previously released by Lucertola. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Riccardo Cucciolla, Lea Lander, (more)
