When a fisherman leaves to fight with the Greek army during World War II, his fiancée falls in love with the local Italian commander.When a fisherman leaves to fight with the Greek army during World War II, his fiancée falls in love with the local Italian commander.When a fisherman leaves to fight with the Greek army during World War II, his fiancée falls in love with the local Italian commander.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 6 nominations
- Father Aresenios
- (as Dimitris Kamperidis)
- Velisarios, The Strongman
- (as Pedro Sarubbi)
- Dimitris
- (as Aimilios Heilakis)
- Mayor
- (as George Kotanidis)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWriter Louis de Bernières re-wrote the book approximately thirty-five times, to ensure he had gotten details told to him by locals as accurate as possible.
- GoofsThe movie implies that the earthquake that devastated Cephallonia after World War II occurred in 1947. It was actually in 1953. At the end of the credits, the movie is dedicated to the memory of those who died in the post-war earthquake of 1953. The DVD commentary also mentions the correct date.
- Quotes
Iannis: When you fall in love, it is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake, and then it subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots are become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the desire to mate every second of the day. It is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every part of your body. No... don't blush. I am telling you some truths. For that is just being in love; which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over, when being in love has burned away. Doesn't sound very exciting, does it? But it is!
- SoundtracksRicordo Ancor
(Pelagia's Song)
Written by Stephen Warbeck and Paco Reconti (as Reconti)
Performed by Russell Watson
Courtesy of Decca Music Group
There is much about this film that is wonderful and fantastic. The cinematography by John Toll (Cinematographer for Braveheart and Legends of the Fall, winning Oscars for both) is splendid. Working with Madden, the choices for locations on the Greek island of Kefallonia are superb and the visual images that come from photographing these majestic locations in varying light are lush and beautiful. Madden also uses numerous Greek actors as the townspeople, giving the town an authentic feel. The soundtrack is also terrific and the mandolin passages and vocals by the Italian soldiers are marvelous.
Madden does an excellent job of bringing us the Italian occupation and the romance, which take up the greater part of the film. There are numerous sweet and funny moments throughout this segment. However, by the time the serious battle drama is ready to unfold, there isn't much film left in the reel and this component is extremely rushed and abbreviated. While the battle scenes are well done, subsequent to the battle it is obvious that increasingly greater compromises are being made to keep the film from running too long. By the time we reach the post war scenes, the treatment is merely skeletal. Another negative is that the DVD is particularly sparse on features.
Nicholas Cage is charming in the romantic lead as the sentimental Captain who seems to have joined the army to sing rather than fight. When fight he must, Cage switches gears seamlessly into a man of fierce principle and resolve and somehow remains believable in both personas.
Penelope Cruz, whom the camera loves, gives an uninspired performance as Pelagia. In part this is because Cage so dominates the screen, but Cruz just seems too placid in a part that should be emotionally torrential and dynamic. She allows the character to be objectified as Corelli's love interest rather than establishing her as a powerful character in her own right.
John Hurt gives a fantastic performance as the wise old doctor, who knows as much about human nature as medicine. However, Christian Bale seems a bit overwrought and stiff as Pelagia's fiancé.
I rated this film an 8/10. Despite some drawbacks, this is a touching film that is well worth seeing. The photography alone is worth the price of admission.
- FlickJunkie-2
- Mar 9, 2002
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Cây đàn Mandolin của Đại úy Corelli
- Filming locations
- Chorgota Beach, Komitata Village, Kefallonia Island, Greece(exterior scenes)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $57,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $25,543,895
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $7,209,345
- Aug 19, 2001
- Gross worldwide
- $62,112,895
- Runtime2 hours 11 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1