Chiara Conti Movies

One of several dramatized tributes to the late pontiff to be telecast in 2005, the two-part CBS biopic Pope John Paul II is a remake of a popular Italian miniseries, and was filmed on location in Italy and Poland. The film begins with the attempted assassination of the pope on May 13, 1981, whereupon the story of the man once known as Karol Wojtyla is unfolded in flashback. The familiar highlights of Pope John Paul II's life and work are vividly realized: his early theatrical aspirations, his staunch resistance of both the Nazis and the Communist party in his native Poland, his meteoritic rise through the church ranks (at 38, he was his country's youngest bishop), and his ultimate ascendance to the Vatican throne in 1978. Also, this is one of the few English-language films to officer a meticulous recreation of the papal election process. Throughout much of the film, the pope's career is firmly linked with that of his countryman, Polish labor leader Lech Walesa; it can be inferred that without the input of both men, Poland would never have freed itself from Communist domination, nor would the Soviet empire have ultimately fallen. Cary Elwes plays John Paul from ages 18 through 50, whereupon Elwes morphs (quite literally, thanks to a brief -- and controversial -- special-effect sequence) into Jon Voight, who takes over as the older pope. Pope John Paul II was first telecast in two parts on December 4 and 7, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Two women on the run from the law soon find they have more than the cops to contend with in this feminist thriller from Italy. Eleonora (Mariella Valentini) learns that her daughter Lenni (Regina Orioli), a teenage runaway, is working at a run-down gas station in a small town, and decides to pay her a visit. Eleonora is quite surprised to discover that Lenni also happens to be involved in a lesbian relationship with Stella (Maya Sansa), a mechanic who runs the station. While glad to see her daughter, Eleonora makes no secret of her indignation, and after a heated argument Eleonora winds up dead. Lenni and Stella set out to find a safe place to hide the body, but, en route, they're trailed by three sexist toughs (Chiara Conti, Marco Quaglia, and Pietro Ragusa) whose childish taunting escalates into violence, forcing the women to fight fire with fire. As if they didn't have enough problems, Lenni and Stella must also contend with the spirit of Eleonora, who, even in death, will not keep her uncharitable opinions to herself. Benzina made its North American premier at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Ernesto (Sergio Castellitto of Va Savoir) is a successful artist and devout atheist who finds out that his mother, whom he despised, is being considered for sainthood. Ernesto's young son, Leonardo (Alberto Mondini), influenced by his religion teacher, has developed a fear of God, whom he tries to shoo away like a pest. "If He's everywhere," Leonardo reasons, "then I'm not free -- even for a second." Ernesto's estranged wife, Irene (Jacqueline Lustig), encourages Leonardo's faith, and seems to be on the side of Ernesto's family, who are greedily clamoring to get Ernesto to participate in the canonization process. His mentally unstable brother, Egidio (Donato Placido), who will speak only to Ernesto, murdered their mother years earlier, and holds the key to her beatification. At a party, Ernesto insults a deranged monarchist, Conte Bulla (Toni Bertorelli), who then challenges him to a duel. Ernesto goes to complain to Leonardo's religion teacher, expecting to find an ugly old woman, and instead finds Diana (Chiara Conti), an impossibly beautiful young woman who admires his work. Ernesto meets the Cardinal (Maurizio Donadoni), and tells the man that his mother was "stupid" and "had no passion." "Loving someone is the best way to declare my atheism," he declares. But as he gets caught up in all the intrigue, Ernesto recognizes a connection to his hated mother that he cannot escape; he has the same mocking smile. Marco Bellocchio's My Mother's Smile was shown at the 2002 New York Film Festival and at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, where it won a Special Mention for the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

British indie queen Tilda Swinton stars as a detective looking to solve a notoriously senseless thrill killing in 1994. Swinton and her crew piece together the crime in which a couple of upper class lads from Oxford venture into London on a bloodlust binge. Failing to find a pusher or a pimp to kill, they off a passing motorist instead. This film was screened in the 1999 London Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide