Import Corner: Maléna (2000) (Imprint Films) Blu-ray Review + 1080p Screenshots + Packaging Shots

Imprint Films brings an Italian classic in its original form, not the bastardized Miramax version, is it worth it?

Studio: Imprint Films
Release Date: October 27th, 2000 (theatrical) / June 28th, 2023 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 1 hour 48 minutes 4 seconds
Region Code: FREE

Disc Count: 1
Picture: 1080p (2.35:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles: English
Slipcover: Yes (slip box)
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana, Pietro Notarianni
Written by Giuseppe Tornatore, Luciano Vincenzoni
Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
Rating: AUS: M (moderate violence, moderate coarse language)

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Poster

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What's It About?

Malèna (Monica Bellucci) tells the story of the most beautiful woman in an Italian village, who becomes the subject of malicious gossip among the lustful townsmen and their jealous wives. But only her most ardent admirer will learn the untold true story of the mysterious and elusive Malèna, who inspires new heights of compassion, courage, and independence.

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Video/Audio

Presented in the film's original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, MALÈNA looks really nice. I have never seen this film before so I can't tell you if this transfer is accurate to how the director had intended the film to look but I have seen a ton of Italian films from the time the film takes place as well as the time it was shot and I have to say that I think this is probably very accurate. Detail is nice in close-ups and there is a thin layer of film grain.

One thing I noticed while watching MALÈNA is how yellow and brown the film is. Most of the scenes that take place outside are drenched in sunshine, so yellow makes sense. Different shades of brown comes from the city and its look and feel. Other colors do pop up here and there but the most dominant colors are yellow and brown.

Featuring a DTS-HD track in its native Italian, MALÈNA sounds great. Dialogue is crisp and clear, but the film's amazing score from Ennio Morricone is the real winner. It sounds so good here.

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Extras/Packaging

"The Life and Dream of Giuseppe Tornatore" - Documentary (52m 56s, SD, 1.66:1) in Italian with English subtitles

"The Making Of Malèna" - Featurette (11m 2s, SD, 1.33:1) in English

"On Location" - Behind the Scenes (35m 26s, SD, 1.33:1) in Italian with English subtitles

Interview with director Giuseppe Tornatore (9m 15s, SD, 1.33:1) in Italian with English subtitles. Has terrible, scratchy sound inherent to the source.

Interview with Giuseppe Tornatore and composer Ennio Morricone (22m 30s, SD, 1.33:1) in Italian with English subtitles

In Studio - Recording the Score (21m 53s, SD, 1.33:1) in Italian with English subtitles

Theatrical Trailer (1m 23s, SD, 1.33:1)

TV Spots (1m 36s, SD, 1.33:1)

The special features presented here are all legacy features but that doesn't make them unwatchable. All of the features here offer something a bit different from the last one and we get a good sense of how the film was made and what went into it. My favorite feature is the recording session with Ennio Morricone. I loved watching a master work.

Imprint Films gives us a nice package in terms of, well, packaging. The other slip is a slip box with the blu-ray case sliding into the side instead of the top or bottom. The slip box features the American poster with Monica Bellucci in the foreground on the right and the kid and the town in the background.

The clear blu-ray case inside the slip box features an alternate poster. Inside the case, we have inner artwork featuring a scene from the film as well as the blu-ray disc featuring the same artwork as the front of the slip box.

The disc is REGION FREE

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Overall

MALÈNA is a gorgeous looking film that I just didn't connect with. I didn't like the kid. He was kind of an asshole at times and I couldn't get behind him. I know that kids are assholes but this kid was more than that. Monica Bellucci is great in the film and we really care for her. Had the film been more about her than the kid, I think the film would have benefitted from it. I was a bit disappointed with the film as I had heard so many good things about it but I didn't like it. The film looks great and the Ennio Morricone score helps you get through the film but as a whole, the film didn't work for me.

Imprint Films has done an excellent job with this release. The picture and sound both complement the film greatly and the special features offer something for everyone. I do wish there were a few newer features like an interview with Monica Bellucci, but what we have here more than makes up for that. I love the fly-on-wall behind the scenes footage as well as the score recording sessions with Ennio Morricone. This is a must-buy for fans of the film.

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Extras/Menus