Pierre Niney leads a stellar cast in Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière’s thrilling new adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ epic adventure, the first French cinematic treatment of the iconic tale of romance and redemption in over fifty years.

Marseille, 1815. The dreams of principled young sailor Edmond Dantès (Niney) are about to come true; promoted to ship’s captain, he can finally marry the love of his life, Mercédès (Anaïs Demoustier). But his success inspires jealousy… betrayed by his rivals, Dantès is denounced as a member of a pro-Napoleon conspiracy, and incarcerated without trial in an isolated prison.

After years of solitude, Dantès befriends the inmate in the adjacent cell, Abbé Faria (Pierfrancesco Favino), who reveals the location of a hidden treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. An extraordinary plan is hatched to exact revenge on the three men who wronged him: assuming multiple identities – “the Count of Monte Cristo” among them – Dantès will first court his enemies, and then seek retribution.

After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, the film became a cultural phenomenon in France where it stormed the box office with close to 10 million tickets sold. At once timeless and electrifyingly new, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO is a luxurious, bold, and spectacular entertainment that should not be missed on the big-screen.
www.thecountofmontecristo.com.au

Salvatore Todaro (Pierfrancesco Favino – World War Z and Angels & Demons) was a real-life World War II veteran, who even though he was saddled with a severe back injury continued to serve in the Italian army. He was given command of the submarine Comandante Cappellini and asked to join the Battle of the Atlantic.

That battle, which was the longest continuous military campaign of the War was a horrendous campaign and led to an unimaginable number of casualties both civilian and military. During the mission, the Comandante Cappellini sinks a Belgian cargo ship called the Kabalo and Todaro goes against orders and rescues the surviving crew members and takes them to safety.

Favino plays Todaro as an almost mystical character and the film is filled with his eloquent musings. His strong morality is tested time and time again and he proves to be up to the task. The tight confines of life on a forties-era submarine and its claustrophobic nature are played as a strong contributor to the story, especially when he takes on board the rescued crew members.

Even though several crew members fit the description of the usual suspects, the soulful cook, the dedicated second in command and the sacrificing crew members, the film never degenerates into cliche scenarios. Even though World War II provides the backdrop, the heart and soul are provided by the men and their unwavering humanity in this time of war.
Rob Hudson

Comandante screenings in Brisbane
Palace Barracks
Friday 20th September 3:10pm
Tuesday 24th September 8:30pm
Friday 27th September 1:00pm
Monday 30th September 6:00pm
Friday 4th October 8:30pm
Tuesday 8th October 3:20pm
Sunday 13th October 10:30am

Palace James St
Sunday 22nd September 10:00am
Thursday 26th September 1:10pm
Monday 30th September 5:40pm
Tuesday 1st October 10:15am
Friday 4th October 1:10pm
Friday 11th October 3:30pm
Monday 14th October 5:50pm
Tuesday 15th October 8:30pm
Wednesday 16th October 4:10pm

2024 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival runs in Brisbane from 19 September – 16 October, and will take place at the Palace James Street and Palace Barracks cinemas.

Click here for more information about the festival, or head to the official website for more information and to book your tickets!
www.italianfilmfestival.com.au

A smash hit at the Italian box office, writer/director Andrea Di Stefano’s stylish new film stars the always-excellent Pierfrancesco Favino (The Traitor, Nostalgia) as an honourable Milanese police lieutenant whose spotless record comes undone over the course of one fateful night.

After 35-years of service, well-liked policeman Franco Amore (Favino) is retiring from the force, having never even fired his gun. But on his final night, as his younger and far more worldly second wife Viviana (Linda Caridi, The Ties) is preparing a surprise celebration for him, Franco’s world is turned upside down. His best friend and colleague, Dino (Francesco Di Leva, Nostalgia), has been found dead on a highway in the city centre, one of several casualties after an apparent shootout. As he arrives to investigate the perplexing crime scene, it quickly becomes apparent that Franco knows more than he is letting on, and, having crossed a line, may now be in over his head…

Driven by a breathtaking central set piece, Di Stefano’s twisty, suspenseful thriller of principles, trust and family ties spectacularly mixes the fatalism of classic film noir with emotional heft, especially elevated by the dynamite pairing of Favino and Caridi who provide the film with its beating heart. Superbly crafted – with sleek nocturnal cinematography by Guido Michelotti and a smoky, propulsive score – it’s smart, compulsive big screen entertainment.

A Special Gala Selection of this year’s Berlin Film Festival and the Opening Night selection of the recent Italian Film Festival, THE LAST NIGHT OF AMORE is a highly entertaining, sophisticated crime drama you won’t want to miss.
www.thelastnightofamore.com.au