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Francesco Scianna Movies

2010  
R  
Director Michele Placido and actor Kim Rossi Stuart team up to tell the tale of notorious Italian outlaw Renato Vallanzasca, whose penchant for bold crimes, daring prison breaks, and extravagant showmanship transformed him into an underworld celebrity in the 1970s. Vallanzasca was just nine years old when he and a group of mischievous friends snuck into a local circus to free a tiger, but that fateful day marked the beginning of a spectacular criminal career. Subsequently sent to a juvenile detention facility, Vallanzasca soon rounded up a gang comprised of familiar deviants upon his release, and quickly rose through the ranks of Italy's criminal elite. With the stunning Consuelo (Valeria Solarino) by Vallanzasca's side, not even San Vittore can hold the slippery desperado. And though Vallanzasca's gang would live the high life for a while, the impulsive leader would ultimately seal his own fate when he ruthlessly killed two policemen in a Dalmine tool booth. Having made a sworn enemy out of rival gangster Francis Turatello (Francesco Scianna), Vallanzasca strives to end the rivalry after being incarcerated in Rebibbia Prison. In and out of prison in the decades that followed, Vallanzasca found his life as a fugitive drawing to a close after reconnecting with his old friend Antonella D'Agostino (Paz Vega), whom he would later wed in a civil ceremony. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Starring:
Kim Rossi StuartFilippo Timi, (more)
 
2009  
 
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Giuseppe Tornatore directed this grand-scale portrait of life and love over several decades in a small town in Sicily. The Torrenuovas are a family of peasant shepherds who have lived and worked in Bagheria though many generations. In the years before the rise of Mussolini, the family often found themselves working for Don Giacinto (Lollo Franco), a local tycoon who often used his power and position to take advantage of others. Young Peppino Torrenuova senses a profound injustice in the way Don Giacinto treats his elders, and as the years pass the young man becomes a passionate advocate for social change. Once he grows to be a man, Peppino (Francesco Scianna) falls in love with beautiful Mannina (Margareth Made) and they get married, starting a family of their own over the objections of Mannia's parents, who believe she can do better. As Peppino throws in his lot with the local Communist party and works to make life better for his fellow peasants, we see a number of important historical events through his eyes and watch the fortunes of his town and his family rise and fall. Featuring guest appearances by Monica Bellucci, Raoul Bova and Donatella Finocchiaro, Baaria was the opening night attraction at the 2009 Venice International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Francesco SciannaMargareth Madè, (more)
 
2007  
 
Director Stefano Incerti draws inspiration from the true life tale of Sicilian mob whistleblower Leonardo Vitale for this tale of a man consumed by guild and determined to reveal the inner workings of the world's most powerful organized crime network. Soon after Vitale (David Coco) is muscled into lending a group of thugs his car, he is arrested on suspicion of taking part in a kidnapping plot. Though he attempts to tell the authorities what really happened, it quickly becomes obvious what a mistake he's made when he receives a dire warning from the inside to stop talking. While Vitale's well connected Uncle Titta (Tony Sperandeo) does his best to protect his frightened nephew, Vitale remains convinced that the only way to clear his name is to come clean to the authorities about his shady past. While the public at large thinks Vitale's bizarre claims are nothing more than the ravings of a madman, the mob knows the truth and views his reckless chatter as a direct threat. In a desperate bid to make it appear that Vitale is indeed insane, Uncle Titta and Vitale's mother Rosalia (Anna Bonaiuto) have him locked away in a mental institution. At first it seems as if their plan was a success, but when Vitale later emerges and runs directly to magistrate Angelo Saitta (Tony Palazzo) it quickly becomes apparent that all will not end well for the man struggling to clear his clouded conscience. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Starring:
David CocoAnna Bonaiuto, (more)