Themes: Star-Crossed Lovers, Life Under Occupation, Women During Wartime
Main Cast: Nicolas Cage, Penélope Cruz, John Hurt, Christian Bale, David Morrissey
Release Year: 2001
Country: UK/US
Run Time: 127 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Louis de Bernières' best-selling novel of love during wartime is brought to the screen in this story that blends comedy, action, and romance. In 1940, war rages throughout Europe, but the fighting has yet to arrive on the Greek island of Cephallonia, where life continues to follow its own slow, deliberate path until word arrives that Italian troops have invaded neighboring Albania. A wave of anti-Axis patriotism sweeps the island, and Mandras (Christian Bale), a local fisherman, is one of a handful of men who volunteer for the army, leaving behind his aging mother (Irene Papas) and the woman he loves, Pelagia (Penélope Cruz), the daughter of the island's physician, Dr. Iannis (John Hurt). The timing of Mandras and his compatriots proves less than fortuitous, as Italian troops invade Greece in their absence, but the remaining leaders of the island issue an ultimatum -- the people of Cephallonia will surrender, but only to a ranking German officer. Since none of the available German officers can speak a word of Greek, an Italian soldier fluent in the language, Capt. Antonio Corelli (Nicholas Cage), is sent in to serve as translator. Corelli stays on with the Greek occupation forces, and he soon finds himself falling in love with beautiful Pelagia, who believes that Mandras was killed in the fighting in Albania. But as romance slowly blooms between the Italian soldier and the Greek girl, Mandras and a handful of surviving soldiers have joined a guerilla resistance faction, and they join up with Allied forces in a bid to retake Greece; soon, Pelagia must choose between the two men she loves, as the Greeks battle both the Italian occupation troops and German soldiers who have been sent in to replace them. Captain Corelli's Mandolin was directed by John Madden; the project originally began shooting with Roger Michell, but Michell was forced to resign from the film after he suffered a heart attack. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Garry Freeman - Art Director, Chris Seagers - Supervising Art Director, Mary Selway - Casting, Shaila Rubin - Casting, Jane Frazer - Co-producer, Liza Chasin - Co-producer, Debra Hayward - Co-producer, Alexandra Byrne - Costume Designer, Deborah Saban - First Assistant Director, John Madden - Director, Vic Armstrong - Second Unit Director, Mick Audsley - Editor, Stephen Warbeck - Composer (Music Score), Jo Allen - Makeup, Jim Clay - Production Designer, John Toll - Cinematographer, Tim Bevan - Producer, Eric Fellner - Producer, Kevin Loader - Producer, Mark Huffam - Producer, Peter Lindsay - Sound/Sound Designer, Adrian Rhodes - Sound/Sound Designer, Richard Conway - Special Effects Supervisor, Shawn Slovo - Screenwriter, Louis de Bernières - Book Author
Captain Corelli's Mandolin is a 2001 film directed by John Madden and based on the novel of the same name by Louis de Bernières. It stars Nicolas Cage and Penélope Cruz. The film was panned by critics on its release and disappointed fans by deviating somewhat from the plot of the novel, with many of the book's tragic episodes softened.
The idyllic beauty of Greece's Mediterranean islands has been invaded by Italy, bringing legions of soldiers to the once tranquil island of Cephallonia. Captain Antonio Corelli, an officer with an irrepressibly jovial personality and passion for the mandolin, initially alienates a number of the villagers, including Pelagia. The daughter of the village doctor, Pelagia is an educated and strong-willed woman, and while at first offended by the Italian soldier's behaviour, she slowly warms to his certain charms as they are forced to share her father's home.
When Pelagia's fiance, a local fisherman, heads off to war, the friendship between Antonio and Pelagia grows even stronger. Her beauty and intelligence have captured his heart and his fondness for the village's vibrant community causes him to question his reasons for fighting. Antonio becomes a part of the lives of the villagers, but the moment is fleeting. As the war grows ever closer, Antonio and Pelagia are forced to choose between their allegiance to their countries and the love they feel for one another-a love which must overcome tremendous odds, and endure the inevitable sacrifice which accompanies eternal devotion.
Time Line
1940
October 28
Italy invades Greece
1941
April 6
Germany invades Greece
June 1
The Axis forces occupy all of Greece
2 year time span
1943
September 3
Italy and the Allied forces sign an armistice
September 15
The German Luftwaffe bombards the Italian positions with Stuka dive-bombers
This film is dedicated to the thousands of Italian soldiers executed by German forces on the island in September 1943 and to the people of Cephallonia who were killed in the post-war earthquake.
