Malena/西西里的美丽传说/真爱伴我行 Is beauty the original sin?

debut in 2000, this Italian movie faces critiques and compliments when time passes by. But an undeniable fact is each of man indulges in female obsession at a young age, especially mature, elegant and enigmatic mistress. I am no exception, and I don't feel shameful to admit it. The same logic goes with different gender types including LGBTQIA, and some violent sexual sentiments like BDSM. Although Christians or mainstream idea of the society denounces those thoughts, scorning them "against human nature" or "irregular and distorted carnal knowledge" or whatever. We must say they do exist.

And unsurprisingly, Renato the adolescent, falls in love with beautiful and solitary Malena. Although it is purely sensual desire initially and no difference with the other perverts in the small Sicilian town, later he stalks on the street and spies her in the house, gradually touched and obsessed with this kind-hearted woman. He knows she is innocent, and the rumors spread in the townsfolks are ridiculous. The men lusts and grows filthy and evil ideas of raping her but they hide their monstrous thoughts and condemn lady Malena a slut, the women are jealous of her beauty and worry she might seduce their husbands so ruin her reputation and say she seduces endless guys. You can see the inhumanity of the crowds to destroy an angle. Renato knows her innocence and swears to be her protector and ask God and his saints to watch over her. A young child protects her in his own ways, like pissing into the purse of a woman when she maliciously curses Malena and throwing a stone to break the lawyer's office windows when the lawyer, a bold overgrown child fed by his mommy in lunch, just said Malena is a whore. Renato even has some delusions of romantic scenes with lady Malena, such as putting a spike into Malena's enemy's heart in an ancient Romen pit, kissing the smooth legs of lady Malena when she asks his favor to buy cigarettes. This lad in throes of puberty even steal a piece of underwear in the Malena's yard and mentally masturbate on his own bed, the creaking sound annoys all family members. This psychosexuality is crazy, but I also had similar experience during adolescence and find it totally understandable. I hope the audience can be more tolerant with this mature female proneness and don't judge Renato for that.

When her beloved husband was gone in the WW II and her father a Latin professor died on the attacks of air bombs, she has no support mentally and financially. The cruel environments force her to be a prostitute and all men are happy with that. But who can blame such am adorable lady to sell herself as whore when she has no bread and no money? When Germany armies were expelled by US troops, all angry townswomen storm the hotel and drag Malena's hair out and brutally beat her and cut her hair and trod on it. All the men stand, silently watch and dare not stop this crime despite Malena slept with most of them. The hopeless Malena eventually escaped the town.

When her husband Nino came back, people rudely mock and disrespect him cuz his wife is a hooker. It was Renato who send him an anonymous note telling him the truth that his wife is spiritually beloved with him given all the misfortunes and encourage him to find her in Messina. When the couple gets back to Sicily and seen strolling on the street, people changed their attitudes towards them sharply. That is when the townsfolk realize her morality and innocence.

The suffering of Malena is hugely dependent on the environment, like the evil or kind townsfolk, and invasion of Germany, retreat of Italian army and takeover of American troops. Her fate is not decided by herself, but the society. When the society sentences her to death, her fate is doomed. This film demonstrates how insignificant a woman is in the 1940s Italy. Perhaps most of the human beings are like small potatoes as Lady Malena. The lesson I learnt is I must pursue higher position and accumulate more wealth, so that I could have influence over the society, rather than passively being guided by the society like the pitiable Malena. I am compassionate with her, but I do hope I could be the captain of my own lifeboat.

I like the ending lines of Renato in the film:

I pedaled as fast as I could...as if I were escaping from longing, from innocence, from her.

Time has passed, and I have loved many women.

And as they've held me close...and asked if I will remember them. I've said, "Yes, I will remember you."

But the only one I've never forgotten is the one who never asked...

Malena.