It's 1940 Castelcuto, Sicily. Mussolini has just declared war on France and Britain. Renato is a 12 year old boy. He gets a new bike and joins a group of local boy. They are obsessed with Nino's new wife Malèna Scordia (Monica Bellucci). He starts spying on her and having erotic dreams about her. Her husband dies in the war. In the town, the men are obsessed and the women are jealous. Rumors of affairs with married men lead to a court trial.
If this is a story about Malèna, it could be something great. However, she's really more of an object and what a beautiful object she is. This is really a coming of age story about Renato. We're seeing Malèna through his eyes. In many ways, he has to be more compelling as a character played by a more charismatic actor. He needs to have friends to play with. He needs to have connections other than an imaginary one with Malèna. There has to more satisfying conversations. He's obsessed with a naked Monica Bellucci. Who isn't? That probably is worth some extra points somehow.
If this is a story about Malèna, it could be something great. However, she's really more of an object and what a beautiful object she is. This is really a coming of age story about Renato. We're seeing Malèna through his eyes. In many ways, he has to be more compelling as a character played by a more charismatic actor. He needs to have friends to play with. He needs to have connections other than an imaginary one with Malèna. There has to more satisfying conversations. He's obsessed with a naked Monica Bellucci. Who isn't? That probably is worth some extra points somehow.