Unlike typical teenage fantasies, Malena is brutally realistic. Renato (Giuseppe Sulfaro) experiences the pangs of first love, jealousy, and ultimately, the painful realization that beauty can be a curse. The film masterfully blends comedy (Renato’s spying antics) and tragedy (Malèna’s public humiliation).

If you're watching "Malena" with a group or discussing it with friends, here are some questions to consider:

Set in 1940 as Italy enters World War II, the story is told through the eyes of 12-year-old Renato Amoroso. Renato experiences three life-changing events on the same day: the start of the war, getting his first bicycle, and seeing

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore ( Cinema Paradiso ), with a soul-stirring score by Ennio Morricone.