Sabrina Ferilli Movies

Novellas by Luigi Pirandello provided the source for this Italian anthology of two tales written and directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. "Felice," set in Rome of the '30s, focuses on former opera baritone Felice (Antonio Albanese), now an accountant at the Teatro dell'Opera. Felice roars with laughter during his sleep, prompting his suspicious Russian wife (Elena Ghiaurov) to leave him. Abrasive opera director Migliori (Luca Zingaretti) has a daily ritual of tormenting crippled Rambaldi (Giuseppe Cederna). Since Felice has dreamed of joining Migliori in this humiliation, he is overcome with guilt when Rambaldi commits suicide. Felice makes plans to drown himself, but his future brightens after he finds romance with former chorus girl Nora (Sabrina Ferilli). "Two Kidnappings" begins in contemporary Sicily with a mobster holding a youth (Steve Spedicato) hostage to prevent his Mafia turncoat father from naming names but then segues to a kidnapping of 100 years earlier at the same location. Originally a three-parter, the third tale was filmed and edited but later deleted from the final release version. Nicola Piovani's orchestral score includes selections from Rossini. The Taviani brothers previously adapted Pirandello in their 1984 Kaos. Shown at the 1998 Venice Film Festival , the 1998 Toronto Film Festival, and the 1998 New York Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Usury is a serious problem in mid-'90s Italy, a country torn by the realities of a long-term economic recession and the people's desires for material prosperity. Unforutnately, with the closure of many Italian banks and the lack of available credit, these things are hard to come by legally, so many, especially businessmen, turn to loan sharks. According to surveys, over %65 of the nation's businesses have involvement with violent loan sharks who like their seafaring cousins will patiently circle the rickety financial lifeboats of their prey until the right moment and then rush in for the kill. This allegorical crime drama from Italian filmmaker Ricky Tognazzi chronicles the complex psychological relationship between one such loan shark and his prey, an old friend from college. Francesco (the intended victim) runs a failing construction company owned by his dying father-in-law who went deeply in debt trying to keep the firm afloat. Outwardly, Sergio is an upstanding financial advisor who knew Francesco a decade before when they were both wild college boys. Sergio learns of Francesco's plight via a helpful banker and as soon as the father-in-law dies sends Claudio (his thug) to visit the bereaved family. Saying he represents the wealthy Signora Sauro (Sergio's secret lover and accomplice) Claudio offers to make a substantial loan to Francisco who accepts. Soon Sergio is back in Francesco's life. He has set his sights on his old friend's beautiful wife Miriam and becomes obsessed with bedding her. At the same time Claudio, whom Francesco doesn't realize is in cahoots with Sergio, begins threatening him for the money. Fortunately Sergio is there to 'save' Francesco from what he doesn't realize is the inevitable destruction of his business. At least that was Sergio's plan. Unfortunately, as ruthless and shrewd as he is, he does not count on the inconsistency of his accomplices. He also underestimates his victims and that proves for him, a terrible mistake. The film is also known as Un Homme Honnete. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Two disparate Italian families battle it out on a remote island during summer vacation in this barbed social comedy that sharply comments on the yawning chasm created by ideological and political differences between liberal-but-narrow-minded intellectual elitists and ultra-conservative, ignorant masses. The story's battleground is set upon the island of Ventotene and on either side are adjacent cabins. In one stays the intellectually arrogant Sandro Molino. He brings with him his girl friend Cecilia, her baby, and her father. Cecilia is constantly insecure about her relationship with Sandro while papa Mauro, a failed thespian, fights his ever-encroaching depression. The Molino camp and its many followers spend their days playing music, sipping wine, smoking hashish, grooving on nature and engaging in endless conversations until the prominent Roman gun merchant Ruggero Mazzalupi and his boisterous family show up and spoil everything. The riotous Mazzalupis are as vulgar as the Molinos are tragically hip. The real conflict begins when Sandro threatens to turn Ruggero in for abusing a Senegalese servant. Chaos between the clans erupt, but amidst the cafuffle, two teens still manage to fall in love. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

This Italian romantic comedy examines the life of the working class in modern Tuscany. Bruno is going to be among those laid off from the local steel mill. His consternation is compounded by his wife Mirella's discontent. Though they've only been married three years, she is already involved in an affair with a local television host, Gerry Fumo. When Bruno, the last to know, finally learns of the affair, he asks her to leave. She moves in with Fumo, but inside, misses Bruno. After Bruno and friends try unsuccessfully to open their own steel mill, Bruno has a serious coronary. Mirella temporarily returns, then leaves after the couple decides that they would be happier apart. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Sister Faustina (Flora Mastroianni) has been a nun all her adult life. Now the orphanage she has run for many years is in danger of being closed, and she herself is in poor health. Her faith is not quite enough to sustain her at this time of crisis. However, four of her former charges have returned to the orphanage for a reunion. Each one has a particularly challenge to face: Marta (Bettina Giovannini) is being dumped by her married lover, Claudia (Claudia Muzzi) can't bear the thought of having her pesky old grandfather move in with her as he wants to, Sabrina (Sabrina Ferilli) is attractive only to the kinds of men who will hurt her, and Lorella (Lorella Morlotti) can't keep from stealing things and getting into trouble. While none of these women can solve the others' problems, the mere fact of sharing them lightens their burden. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

George Maniago (Burt Young) is a homely Italian-American undertaker who has come to Italy in the 1930s to seek a beautiful, big-breasted Italian virgin to be his bride. To assist him in his search, not least because his ability to speak Italian is limited, he hires Vittorio Benvegnu (Fabrizio Bentivoglio) from his uncle's marriage agency. They travel around Italy and have developed a pattern of behaviors: George selects a woman to be interviewed and regularly finds some reason (a previous marriage, deafness, etc.) to reject them as marriage prospects. Vittorio usually finds some reason to seduce George's rejects, who at the very least are beautiful and big breasted. Finally George settles on a girl, and all should be well, except that cynical Vittorio has fallen in love with her. Whatever feelings the girl has for him are not strong enough to sway her from the lure of going to America, and he is spurned. After George leaves, Vittorio discovers that he has left him a dangerous going-away present. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi