Kim Rossi Stuart Movies

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

Director Olivier Jahan offers an glimpse into The Director's Fortnight, a sidebar of the Cannes Film Festival conceived by a group of filmmakers known as the Société des Réalisateurs de Films who sought to counter the academism of the main part of the world-renowned festival. Pierre-Henri Deleau, the one-time artistic director of the Société des Réalisateurs de Films, and as his successor Olivier Père take movie lovers behind the scenes as the dedicated group of filmmakers prepare for the 2007 Director's Fortnight. Archive footage, film clips, and interviews with over two-dozen directors offer a comprehensive look at forty years of cinematic rebellion. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Giancarlo De Cataldo's best-selling tale about three lifelong friends effectively take control of organized crime in modern-day Rome comes to the screen in this sweeping crime drama from director Michele Placido. Libanese (Pierfrancesco Favino) is the cold-hearted leader of a juvenile delinquent trio that also includes undyingly loyal Freddo (Kim Rossi Stuart) and power-hungry Dandi (Claudio Santamaria). After kidnapping and casually murdering a baron (Franco Interlenghi), the scheming friends soon form the shady alliances with the local gangsters, corrupt cops, and secret service members that will allow them the opportunity to effectively corner the market on heroin sales. Meanwhile, determined Inspector Sciloja (Stefano Accorsi), who has made it his goal to bring Libanese and his cronies to justice, stealthily manages to trace back the marked ransom money from the baron's kidnapping to Dandi's girlfriend Patrizia (Anna Mouglalis) - an alluring call girl whom the inspector soon finds himself falling for. But Inspector Sciloja isn't the only one to fall under the spell of a female who seems strangely out of his reach. On the other side of the law, Freddo becomes enamored by the decidedly pure Roberta (Jasmine Trinca), whose attempts to educate the smitten thug in the beauty of the Italian Masters seem to be made in vain. In projecting a fictionalized tale of murderous criminality against the larger backdrop of Italy's turbulent social history during the waning decades of the 20th Century, director Placido strives to craft a film that is not only entertaining, but historically relevant as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A man makes friends with his teenaged son for the first time in this emotional drama from Italy. Gianni (Kim Rossi Stuart) fathered a child with his wife, but she died in childbirth, and the baby was born with severe physical and mental handicaps. The boy, Paolo (Andrea Rossi), was raised by the late woman's family until he reached the age of 15, when Gianni decided he wanted to meet and spend time with his son. With Paolo scheduled for treatment with medical specialists in Germany, Gianni offers to pick up his son and travel with him to Berlin. At first, Gianni is taken aback by the extent of his son's disabilities, but he also sees the great warmth and charm that his son possesses, and over the course of their first few days together, Gianni begins to feel a real bond with Paolo for the first time. While in Berlin, Gianni makes friends with Nicole (Charlotte Rampling), a woman whose daughter faces many of the same challenges as Paolo, and through her he begins to appreciate the responsibilities and the rewards of caring for a handicapped child. La Chiavi di Casa (aka The Keys to the House) was screened in competition at the 2004 Venice Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Dellamorte, Dellamore director Michele Soavi steps back behind the camera to helm this violent, made-for-television Italian crime drama based on Marco Melega's bestselling book and scripted for the screen by cult icon Luigi Montefiori (aka George Eastman). A professional gang of criminals have been carrying out a series of precision robberies along the Rimini Coast and, no matter how hard they try to catch up, police detectives Valerio Kim Rossi Stuart and Rocco Dino Abbrescia always seem to be one pace behind the crafty criminals. Their only clue as to the identity of the perpetrators being the white Fiat Uno consistently used as a getaway car, the detectives are prompted to step-up their investigation when, in a fierce exchange of gunfire with the criminals, a superior officer is killed in the line of duty. Now forced to take the law into their own hands to ensure that no more innocent lives are lost, detectives Valerio and Rocco receive an unexpected surprise when the shocking identities of the trigger-happy thieves are finally revealed to be the very people they least expected. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Alessandro D'Alatri directed this Italian drama about Jesus Christ, covering his childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, an 18-year span not chronicled in the Bible. The film uses names of the period instead of names given in the Bible. The adult Jeoshua (Kim Rossi Stuart) reflects on past events -- his journey into the desert, baptism, acceptance into the Essenes' community, Jewish life in Galilee, his yeshiva studies, education from his father Josef (Omar Chenbod), and his spiritual growth. After seeing slavery, crucifixions, the stoning of an adulteress, and brutal Roman soldiers, Jeoshua turns to God for answers, leaves the village, and is betrayed by his friend Aziz (Said Taghmaoui), who leaves him to die in the desert. Issues such as carnality bring Jeoshua in conflict with the Essenes, yet he speaks out on behalf of the Essene David (popular Italian singer Lorenzo Cherubini). Journeying forth once more, Jeoshua rejoins his cousin Jochannan (Boris Terral), later known as John the Baptist, who recognizes Jeoshua's link to God. Shot in the Moroccan desert by lenser Federico Masiero, the film combines chants, vocals, and Middle Eastern-styled music by Pivio and Aldo De Scalzi. Shown at the 1998 Venice Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Two policemen, one experienced with scores to settle, the other new and vulnerable, provide the impetus for this arresting action movie set in Italy. The story begins with a shoot out in a raunchy disco. There undercover cop, Lazarus, kills three crooks. His reward is a transfer to a desk job in Turin. There he becomes friends with earnest rookie Andrea who comes from a long line of police officers. Andrea is given the job of guarding crime boss Sante who was hospitalized after attempting suicide. Lazarus makes a terrible error and leaves Andrea alone with Sante as he goes to take care of business. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

A robbery goes awry and results in a hostage situation in this tense Italian drama set during a long afternoon in a Rome suburb. It begins when two inept robbers botch a heist at a tobacco store. One of them is shot by the owner and captured. The other, Claudio, runs into a nearby apartment and ends up taking its resident, the wheelchair bound Esther, hostage. Claudio is a human warhead ready to detonate and Esther is rightly terrified, especially when the local police surround the building and begin their waiting game. In time, the police begin making their move, accusing Claudio of raping his hostage. This only makes him more unpredictable and confused about what he should do. It is Esther, who has spent her life feeling sorry for herself and watching TV, who provides the solution. At her suggestion Claudio demands that he be given an interview with the host of the popular show "Where the News Is Born", in which real problems are resolved on the air. He is interviewed and promised a light sentence in exchange for giving himself up in front of the cameras that night. The day drags on while they wait. Soon Esther and Claudio begin developing a strange bond. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

This wickedly funny Italian comedy centers upon a lascivious, fun-loving old uncle who hands out blood-test certificates to potential lovers to prove that he is "clean" and wreaks all sorts of havoc when he must temporarily stay with his wealthy but emotionally constipated nephew. At first the nephew is appalled by his uncle's lust for wild-living, but in time he becomes utterly fascinated by the old man. Soon the previously staid young man finds himself drawn into his uncle's crazy life-style and begins learning the value of living life to the fullest. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this Italian film, a mysterious caller piques the interest of an attractive woman (Brigitte Nielsen), and the two form an unusual relationship. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi