Pino Donaggio Movies

As helmed by Martin Koolhoven (Het Zuiden), the Dutch-language saga Oorlogswinter stars Martijn Lakemeier as Michiel van Beusekom, a young man who becomes involved in the Dutch resistance during the final winter of World War II. Though this represents a heroic move on the boy's part, the experience ultimately leads to complete disillusionment, as it brings Michiel face to face with the realization that during times of war, good and evil are actually intertwined. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

When the efforts of a Philosophy teacher from the Italian Region of Puglia and his two brothers to sell an old family farm are stalled by their boorish and aggressive step-brother, the family's dark past is soon dragged into the harsh light of the presence in director Sergio Rubini's simmering family drama. Luigi moved to Milan years ago to escape the tyranny of his brutish father. Though Luigi and his two brothers are currently attempting to negotiate the sale of an old farm that has fallen to disrepair, their loutish, womanizing, half-brother Aldo seems to be doing everything in his power to sink the potentially lucrative deal. Eventually deciding to take the matter into his own hands, former childhood hellion Luigi returns to Puglia only to find that little has changed in his explosively dysfunctional family. When the brothers are acquitted of a homicide and heated accusations begin to fly among family members, Luigi launches a furtive investigation into the case that finds him putting his relationships with his family, and his wife, under the microscope for closer inspection. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

When the notoriously evil Chucky doll and his lover gave birth, they had no idea that their spawn would grow up to be a peace-loving kind of guy; however, that's exactly what Glen turns out to be: a gentle soul who is horrified at what he has been told about his family. After hearing the news of a film being made about his parents' murderous legacy, Glen sets off for Hollywood, where he promptly brings Chucky and Tiffany back to life. Far from diving into doting fatherhood, Chucky is seriously disappointed in his son's lack of inherent evil and tries his best to impart his vast knowledge of all things malevolent before Glen becomes some sort of do-gooder. Elsewhere, Tiffany finds that she will be played by Jennifer Tilly in their movie and doesn't hesitate to let her son in on their family's most cherished tradition -- killing sprees. Directed by Don Mancini, Seed of Chucky features Brad Dourif returning as the voice of Chucky, while Tilly plays both herself and Tiffany. The offspring of the evil pair, Glen, is voiced by Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd. Cult film director John Waters also makes an appearance, as does hip-hop artist Redman. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

True love, jealousy, and betrayal bring about a good old-fashioned case of body swapping in Italian director Sergio Rubini's 2002 fantastical dark comedy Soul Mate. Rich and unbelievably spoiled, Teresa (Valentina Cervi) is accustomed to getting what she wants. In her most recent conquest, she managed to steal her cousin Maddalena's (Violante Placido) boyfriend, Tonino (Michele Venitucci), even going so far as getting the young man to agree to an engagement. But when the appointed time comes, Tonino backs out and seeks out his true love and soul mate Maddalena. Enraged, Teresa tracks down the village mystic, Benedetta (Maria De Fano), only to meet with the old woman's refusal to cast any spell for the sake of evil. Fortunately for Teresa, Benedetta's son, Angelantonio (director Sergio Rubini), isn't so scrupulous and goes about learning what he needs to in order to enable Teresa to swap bodies with Maddalena. Meanwhile, Maddalena convinces Angelantonio to transport her into Teresa's body, in order to test Tonino's ability to judge beyond outward appearances -- setting in motion the final test to Maddalena and Tonino's relationship. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi

Directed by Giuseppe Ferrara, the political thriller I Banchieri Di Dio (God's Bankers) is based on the true-crime saga of the corrupted Banco Ambrosiano and the unsolved murder of bank president Roberto Calvi in 1982. Co-written by Ferrara and Armenia Balducci, the complex story involves the discovery of a trillion lire deficiet in the bank accounts. Calvi (Omero Antonutti) is blamed and thrown in prison. With the help of his wife (Pamela Villoresi), Calvi goes between the corrupt system of political and religious leaders who can get him out of jail. Rutger Hauer appears as Cardianle Marcinkus, the head of the Vatican bank. In March of 2002, an Italian businessman tried to ban Gods Bankers, claiming ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

A woman left alone by the death of her husband finds her love life has become suddenly and dangerously complicated in this drama. Mary Panton (Kristin Scott Thomas) is a British woman living in Italy in 1938 who has been financially ruined by the death of her husband. Edgar (James Fox), an aging diplomat, asks Mary for her hand in marriage, and while she doesn't love him, she longs for the security of a husband and asks for a few days to consider the proposal. The next evening, Mary is invited to a party by an American socialite known as the Princess (Anne Bancroft); there, Mary meets Rowley Flint (Sean Penn), a rough-hewn and cocky American who is intrigued by her. Mary also feels drawn to Rowley, but their personalities clash, and they end the evening in an argument. Mary impulsively spends the night with Karl (Jeremy Davies), a young musician who played at the party. In the cold light of day, Mary decides that her fling with Karl is best left as a one-night stand, but Karl insists that he's fallen in love with her, and he melodramatically kills himself. Mary, desperate, calls upon Rowley to help her hide the body; he agrees, and soon they are both being questioned by local fascist leader Leopardi (Massimo Ghini) about Karl's disappearance. Up at the Villa was adapted from a novella by W. Somerset Maugham. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Three childhood friends are each confronted with different sides of the tumultuous impact of WWII in this period drama from Italy. Andrea (Andrea Renzi), Guido (Stephane Indovina), and Nives (Lorenza Indovina) grew up together in a city along the Italian coastline. Andrea was the son of a successful druggist who studied medicine according to his father's wishes, even though he dreamed of being a writer. Guido's father was a merchant seaman, and Guido was expected to follow in Dad's footsteps, though he is a gifted musician. And Nives is a woman who loved both men as they loved her. As the War draws to a close, Guido, who became a member of Mussolini's Black Brigade, has been emotionally shattered by the atrocities he witnessed. Andrea is in charge of the hospital where Guido struggles through his delirium; Andrea and Nives try to guide Guido through his mental chaos by recalling the happier days of their youth. Sulla Spiaggia E Di La Molo was based on the novel by popular Italian author Mario Tobino. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The second feature of Steano Incerti, who learned his trade as assistant director to established fellow Neapolitan filmmakers Mario Martone and Pappi Corsicato, Prima del Tramonto (Before Sundown) is set on Italy's southern coast, a transit point for every kind of human and illegal cargo from around the Mediterranean border. Ali (Said Taghmaoui) is a young and charming Moroccan man who works as a waiter for Nicetra, the old boss of the local criminal ring. At 8 o'clock in the morning, we see him getting ready to marry the daughter of the boss with dreams of settling down comfortably. But at the last minute, he decides to reject the security of an easy solution and deserts the ceremony to take his destiny in his own hands. He finds shelter in a seedy hotel with Assia, who is also from Morocco and is hopelessly in love with him. They make love and plan to run to the airport when it gets dark. Ali falls asleep, only to be woken up by two thugs of the boss, who did not forgive his desertion. Assia has disappeared; probably she has betrayed him. Ali starts to run across hostile land with two men on his tail who are determined to take revenge for their boss. The film is a contemporary thriller, which explores the crisis of values in a society in transition towards a new, multi-ethnic identity. Prima del tramonto was screened in competition at the 1999 Locarno International Film Festival. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, Rovi

Popular Italian comedian Leonardo Pieraccioni shfts gears to take on the traditions of the American Western in this family-focused drama. In Il Mio West, Pieraccioni plays Doc, a physician in a small town in the American West. Doc is a peaceful man opposed to hunting, ecological waste and eating meat; he heals the community's ills and lends a voice of reason when personal differences threaten to become violent. The community's peace is shattered when Doc's father, Johnny Lowen (Harvey Keitel) comes home, 20 years after he abandoned his family. As one might expect, Doc has issues with his father, and it doesn't help that Dad was a famous gunslinger whose presence attracts Jack Sikora (David Bowie), an vicious outlaw who has sworn to kill Johnny. Il Mio West was filmmed on location in the Tuscan mountains; in the original Italian language version, Keitel's voice was dubbed by Giancarlo Giannini. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

In this Swiss-Italian-French co-production, architect Luca (Roberto Citran) goes to the Jewish section of Venice to restore a house where reclusive novelist Elio (Omero Antonutti) lives. When Elio lets Luca read the manuscript of his current novel about a famous composer, Luca begins to imagine himself in the role of the composer. Music by Pino Donaggio who also wrote the film's operatic sequences. Shown at the 1997 Locarno Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Set in 18th-century Italy and is somewhat based on the true story of priest Achille Ropa Sanuti, who was persecuted by the Church for dabbling in the black arts, The Arcane Enchanter is a surprisingly old-fashioned, highly atmospheric horror film. Young priest in training, Giacomo commits a minor sin in seminary school and is forced to flee from vengeful church authorities. It is a spooky old woman who offers him deliverance by sending him to become the newest secretary to the enigmatic Arcane Enchanter, a strange fellow who has been banished to a lonely tower deep in the wilderness. Giacomo's predecessor Nerio was apparently involved with Satan and recently died. The Enchanter, while not a devil worshipper, also dabbles in wizardry, something that Giacomo gradually comes to accept. Both the Enchanter and his new scribe are forced to team up when the evil Nerio's ghost rises up to threaten their souls. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

On the wild desert planet of Oblivion, a man called Sweeny comes to search for a corporate saboteur. Though deceptively dressed as a greenhorn city dude, Sweeny is the most effective bounty hunter in the galaxy. He stays in the town where she (he knows nothing about her) is supposed to reside. He finds plenty of suspicious women and even gets romantically involved with the widow Mattie Chase, stealing her away from her steady beau Marshal Adams. Like its predecessor, this feature attempts to create a fresh new genre by combining science fiction and western with comic elements. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Franco Melis is utterly humiliated at being reduced to performing stand-up comedy before young unappreciative audiences who do not realize that he was once a great and highly respected star, and, desperate for a chance to reclaim his lost fame, he jumps at the opportunity to appear in a low-budget independent art film. It is being specially made for exhibition at the Venice Film festival. This Italian comedy chronicles the struggle of Melis, one that grows even more difficult in the face of a press that is more interested in the juicy details of his personal life than in his new movie. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi