Malena
This beautifully executed film focuses on the story of Malena as seen through the eyes of Renato who first encounters her as an infatuated 12-year old. Malena is the local beauty in a small pre-World War 2 Italian town, and her looks soon ignite the townspeople’s petty jealosy and envy. Accosted on all sides Malena is forced into becoming the very thing she is accused of during the tumultuous days of WW2. This is a tale of small town prejudice, but also develops into a love story, with great set pieces and wonderful camera work. All round a - stunner
Now if you know of this great film from 1985, you'll be thinking what has a movie in which the plot concerns the adventures of a wily pickpocket(Matthew Broderick), a cursed knight (Rutger Hauer) and his equally cursed girlfriend (Michelle Pfeiffer) in 13th century France got to do with Italy? Well apart from Matthew Broderick escaping from the dungeon in a town called Aquila! (surely a coincidence), most of this beautifully photographed film was shot on location in, yes you've guessed it Abuzzo! And it does it look great - definitely worth checking out.
Ladyhawke