This vehicle for bellissima Italian sex siren Monica Bellucci is intended to be a wistful portrayal of if Italy in the war years, but almost inevitably comes across as voyeuristic, as the director's camera linger lovingly over his star in various stages of undress, and seems much longer than an hour and a half. The crudeness of its dialogue and situations fails completely to blend with the nostalgic qualities aimed for in the photography and Ennio Morricone's excellent music. . The story has overtones of Summer of '42,: La Bellucci is Malena, voluptuous wife of a soldier, soon declared dead in the war. Friendless, hated by the townspeople for her statuesque sexiness and unable to make a living, she descends to prostitution under the agonised eye of sub-teen Giuseppe Sulfaro, who worships and lusts after her. The narrative does improve in quality towards the end, but it's too little and too late.