Remember Shakespeare in Love? I sort of do. Anyway John Madden directed that film, and now he has directed Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, another romance period piece. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is set during World War II on a Greek island where the town doctor, Dr. Iannis (John Hurt, Lost Souls), is raising his daughter by himself. His daughter Pelagia (Penélope Cruz of Blow) is a bright young lady around 20 who would like to become a doctor, but is also infatuated with a young man named Mandras (Christian Bale, Shaft). Mandras loves her and wants to marry Pelagia, but Pelagia’s father is not for this union (he thinks she should marry for love and should also probably marry a foreigner). The two hastily get married just prior to Mandras leaving for the mainland to go fight the invading Italians. While he is away she writes to him all the time but never receives a response back so she eventually gives up on him.

In case you don’t know WWII history too well, the Greeks can beat the Italians, but the Germans eventually roll into town and defeat the Greeks. However Italy moves in many troops afterwards to occupy the conquered territory. This is how Captain Antonio Corelli (Nicholas Cage from Gone in 60 Seconds) arrives on the island, as an Italian army officer. Most of the Italians in his unit are from the opera and don’t want to be in this war. They sing and dance and have generally a good time on the island and try to be friendly with the natives. Captain Corelli is at first quartered in the doctor’s house. This is where he falls in love with the beautiful Pelagia. About this time Mandras returns from the mainland. So you now have two men loving the same woman, sound familiar? Who does she love and whom will she choose?

Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:47:45 AM

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