The women at first seemed to be upset with their husbands because of their stares, and things got worse and worse because of the endless gossip which seemed to monopolize the talk of the entire town. It wasn't as powerful on both sides here as in Life is Beautiful, but it was truly heartbreaking to see Malena suffering and trying to ignore the increasing tension that was being generated around her.It's hard to say that she was a victim of her own beauty, but it was really what drove all of the conflict in the story. Set against the backdrop of World War II reminded me of Life is Beautiful, especially given the uncertain mix of comedy and tragedy.
I doubt very much that she doesn't understand the concepts of human physical attraction.Moving on. Her behavior struck me much more like someone who had been dealing with such behavior from the men around for her whole life. That thought actually never even occurred to me until I read Roger Ebert's gem of a review. You are missing something.I don't know if Malena was actually unaware of the effect that she had on the townspeople, but I find it nearly impossible to believe that she did. If you think she keeps her eyes on the ground directly in front of her because she is in a state of pure, ignorant bliss, then trust me. Watch Malena, for example, walking through the central square in town at any point in the movie. Given the extent of her depression and stifling sadness, it is astounding to me that anyone in their right mind could attach the word "blissfully" to any element of her character.I know what that's like though, because sometimes I completely miss something about a movie and I think that something else is the stupidest thing in the world because of it, at least until someone explains what I missed and then it all makes sense. He describes Malena as a schoolteacher "of at least average intelligence, who must be aware of her effect on the collective local male libido, but seems blissfully oblivious."Roger, seriously, are you joking? BLISSFULLY? Did you sleep through this movie?She almost never speaks at all and never displays even the slightest hint of a smile.
Memento, and his review of that movie was like a blind man describing a shooting star.
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