Sergio Castellitto Movies

The innovative Italian neuropsychiatrist Marco Lombardo Radice started at treatment movement which draws its name from the unlikely object of worship found in the Peanuts cartoon series, The Great Pumpkin, and it seems likely that this movie and its story represent some kind of homage to his memory. Arturo's wife walked out on him, and now he devotes all his time to his job. He (Sergio Castillitto) is a professor of psychiatry at the university hospital in Rome, and specializes in children's problems. When Pippi (Alessia Fugardi) is brought in for a consultation, it is alleged that she is an epileptic, but the good doctor thinks otherwise. He convinces her reluctant parents to leave her in his care, and through a series of brilliant manipulations, he manages to cure her. The world of mental illness and how it is handled in Italy are not seen through rose-colored glasses, here, and reviewers found tht what could have been a mere tear-jerker manages to be a convincing, gripping drama. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Paolo is a divorced father of two who earns his living as a nightclub entertainer. One night, he meets Francesca, a strangely attractive woman, and after some rather peculiar talk about her having had sex with an Indian guru, they head off for his beach house for an assignation. Francesca uses some special secrets taught to her by her guru to turn him into a paralyzed sex-slave. All he can do is talk, while his body is out of his control and his penis remains continually erect. He seems to accept the situation, although it becomes pretty awkward when his children come over for a visit. After that, things take a darker turn. Viewers who saw this film at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival considered it self-indulgent, and too much like Ferrari's earlier La Dernière Femme (1976). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

In this earnest docudrama, ten episodes depicting the suffering arising out of drug-use are shown. In one story, a pharmacist working an overnight shift helps a boy through drug withdrawal. In another, a mother whose daughter is now free of drugs gives her a pair of valuable coral earrings as a celebratory gift. In another, an newborn is shown suffering from withdrawal: his mother was addicted throughout her pregnancy. Each scene illustrates some aspect of the travails of drug addiction, but never simplistically blames the victims alone for their plight. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Paolo (Sergio Castellitto) hasn't seen his actress girlfriend Francesca (Lina Sastri) in quite a while - not since she went on tour with a play. They broke up just as she was leaving on the tour, and he was expected to move out of their apartment while she was away. When the story opens, he is still in their apartment. Rather than moving out, he has been commiserating with his friends, Enrico (Nicola Pistola), an actor who has probably also been Francesca's boyfriend, and Giuliano (Roberto Citran). Giuliano is engaged to Sophie (Nancy Brilli), and is madly jealous of her. Why he consents to Paolo inviting Sophie along as his "date" for a dinner with his ex on the occasion of her return to Rome is difficult to understand. At any rate, she finally shows up with her boyfriend Piero (Pino Quartullo), and what began as an awkward reunion becomes a more passionate encounter. This film, which marks the directing debut of Ricky Tognazzi, the son of the famous director Ugo Tognazzi, is based on a popular play by Claudio Bigagli. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Two men answer the call of the ocean in this romantic fantasy adventure. Jacques (Jean-Marc Barr) and Enzo (Jean Reno) are a pair of friends who have been close since childhood, and who share a passion for the dangerous sport of free diving. Professional diver Jacques opted to follow in the footsteps of his father, who died at sea when Jacques was a boy; to the bewilderment of scientists, Jacques harbors a remarkable ability to adjust his heart rate and breathing pattern in the water, so that his vital signs more closely resemble that of dolphins than men (he even considers a school of dolphins as his extended family). As Enzo persuades a reluctant Jacques to compete against him in a free diving contest - determining who can dive deeper and longer without scuba gear - Jacques meets Johanna (Rosanna Arquette), a beautiful insurance investigator from America, and he finds that he must choose between his love for her and his love of the sea. Le Grand Bleu ran 132 minutes in its original French version, but it was trimmed to 118 for American release, with the original score by Eric Serra replaced by music from Bill Conti. While the film did middling business in the U.S., it was a huge success in Europe, and director Luc Besson released an expanded 168 minute version in 1998. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Enhanced by glamorous locations and beautiful people, this story is about Gloria (Jo Champa), a fashion model who is searching for a missing babysitter. Gloria has clues about the whereabouts of Sara (Fabienne Babe) from videotapes she liked to make as a sort of a visual journal. Gloria is joined in her search by Vittorio (Sergio Castellito), who is romantically attracted to Sara but also interested in Gloria. As the search continues, it becomes clear that Gloria and Sara are more than just acquaintances. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

ln this comedy, Marina and Romano (Marina Confalone and Sergio Castellitto) are sister and brother, living together in their family's apartment in a Roman suburb. Marina types manuscripts to earn some money, but Romano does not have her industrious bent; he takes life easy and steals dogs on the side (as dog racing is a popular sport where they live). Their lives might have continued uneventfully except for a new neighbor Alfio (Mario Prosperi) who hides a kilo of cocaine under their refrigerator and becomes the object of Marina's romantic illusions. From that point onward, circumstances conspire to separate the siblings as each pursue their own agendas. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

This lighthearted romantic melodrama about Bo (Sergio Castellitto), a weak-willed scriptwriter who falls in love with Francesca (Stefania Sandrelli), a tough, professional television director, does not quite blend the story, characters, and tone into an engaging whole. Bo is an aspiring scriptwriter when he first meets Francesca, and although they have a brief affair, she dismisses it as inconsequential while he remains steadfastly in love with her. Many years later, the two meet again -- and Bo still does not understand that whatever was between them for a brief time in the past is long gone. His "Sad Sack" misfortune and demeanor make him a hard sell as the erstwhile lead, while Francesca's cold-blooded response to life can hardly raise a viewer's sympathy, causing the film to lose ground between the two extremes. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Giovanni (Lou Castel) comes home after his brother's suicide to encounter the same family problems that have been around for years: his mother is a religious fanatic now obsessed with her son's errant spirit, his older brother has a cold and uncaring relationship with his children and his wife, and Giovanni's uncle who runs the wealthy family's house is always out to turn a profit for himself. When Giovanni goes to berate his dead brother's lover for not even coming to his funeral (his brother gave her an apartment and an income, and then she broke off with him because she did not love him), an unexpected attraction starts that builds in intensity as time goes on. Eventually, they start an emotionally-charged relationship that goes up and down like a roller coaster, their conflicts fueled in part by the ghost of the dead brother, by the fact that she is pregnant with his child, and by the difference in their economic status. As their relationship continues, it becomes a question of whether or not they will be able to overcome their differences -- a question that looms larger every day. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide