Anna Papa Movies

Sotto Zero may well be the best-ever Italian film made in Norway (if you know of another one, let us know). Jerry Cala plays an Italian laborer who takes a job on a Norwegian oil rig. He is unprepared for the cold weather, and has a bit of difficulty communicating with his co-workers--well, more than a little, since he knows not one word of their language. But the money is good, and things get better when another Italian joins the crew and befriends Our Hero. The US title for this made-for-Italian-TV film is Below Zero. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The vicious drug-related killings of young pre-teen boys are the fuel that moves this mystery-actioner into high gear. After Annunziata (Angela Molina) opens up a hostel with her friend Antonio (Daniel Ezralow) she is saved from being raped by a Camorra (organized crime) boss when the gangster is suddenly killed. The killer escapes before Annunziata is able to see who it was. Following this murder are several others and always with the same "signature" -- a needle through one of the testicles of the victims. Everyone suspects a drug war is on because the slain men are cocaine-heroin pushers. In a subplot, Annunziata's young son is forced to run drugs (underage children cannot be prosecuted), making him the next candidate for murder. As the drug dealers continue to be killed off, the identity of the killer -- or killers -- slowly becomes obvious. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

An ambitious priest discovers that honoring the Ten Commandments isn't as easy as he imagined in this drama. Father John Flaherty (Christopher Reeve) is a Catholic priest who was ordained during World War II, and soon found himself forced to fight enemy forces while serving as a chaplain in the Army. As his life and career in the church moves on, Flaherty finds himself frequently torn between his duty and devotion to the church and his ambitions, appetites, and the notion that the ends can justify the means. Flaherty eventually rises through the church hirarchy to win an appointment at the Vatican, where he helps to manage the church's finances. When the Vatican's books reveals a major cash flow crisis, Flaherty suggests a rather unusual plan to Cardinal Santoni (Fernando Rey) -- buy hard-to-find American goods at a discount, and then sell them at a profit to mafia kingpins, who will then sell them on the black market at premium prices. As Flaherty and Santoni debate the ethics of this scheme, Flaherty meets and finds himself becoming attracted to Clara (Genevieve Bujold), a postulant nun. Posing as an American businessman, Flaherty romances and seduces Clara, until she discovers his secret. Monsignor also stars Jason Miller, Robert Prosky, and Joe Patoliano. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Fine del Mondo nel Nostro Solito Letto in una Notte Piena di Pioggia, literally translated as "The End of the World in Our Usual Bed in a Night Full of Rain," was also released as Night Full of Rain. This film is director Lina Wertmuller's English-language film-debut. The poor critical and box-office reception to this film marked the beginning of a difficult period for director Wertmuller. In the story, Italian newsman Paolo (Giancarlo Giannini) rescues the American photojournalist Lizzy (Candice Bergen) from a brawl while she is in Italy. He also tries, less than successfully, to seduce her. When they meet again in San Francisco, the sparks between them lead to love. He is an old-guard Italian communist who wants his wife to stay at home and tend to the laundry and the cooking. Lizzy is an emerging feminist, and wants to make a contribution to that movement. Though their differences lead to some noisy confrontations, they are able to talk them through. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide