Lives of the Saints (2004)

Vittorio Innocente, a young man, estranged from the tragedies of his Italian immigrant family, has spent his adult life denying his past. When his estranged father starts to stalk ... See full summary »

Director:

Jerry Ciccoritti

Writers:

Malcolm MacRury, Nino Ricci (novel)

Stars:

Sophia Loren, Fab Filippo, Jessica Paré

3 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Sophia Loren	...	Teresa Innocente
Fab Filippo	...	Vittorio Innocente
Jessica Paré	...	Rita Amherst
Sabrina Ferilli	...	Cristina Innocente
Kris Kristofferson	...	Matthew Bok
Nick Mancuso	...	Mario Innocente
Michael A. Miranda	...	Alfredo Innocente
Jennie Raymond	...	Kate Townsend
Kate Trotter	...	Mrs. Amherst
Stephanie Anne Mills	...	Elena Amherst (as Stephanie Mills)
Flavio Pacilli	...	Young Vittorio
Joseph Marrese	...	Teen Vittorio
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Damir Andrei	...	Older Artist
Valeria Benedetti Michelangeli	...	Ship Nurse
Robert Bockstael	...	Nathan Cordingley

Storyline

Vittorio Innocente, a young man, estranged from the tragedies of his Italian immigrant family, has spent his adult life denying his past. When his estranged father starts to stalk Vittorio's sister, Rita, with murderous intent, Vittorio is moved to return to his family and uncover the decades-old secrets that have torn his family apart.

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Plot Keywords:

italian immigrant | woman | based on novel | 

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Taglines:

A gripping family saga of passion, betrayal and forgiveness.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 January 2005 (Canada)

Also Known As:

La terra del ritorno

Filming Locations:

Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Capri Films, Power, Powercorp

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

secrets of the saints

In post war rural Italy, Vittorio Innocente has his headstrong mother and his loving teacher aunt Teresa Innocente (Sophia Loren) while his father Mario (Nick Mancuso) is away in Canada. He witnesses a mysterious incident where a man runs out of the stable leaving his mother inside. He only half remembers the man's bright blue eyes and a snake. His mother gets pregnant and they set off for Canada. His mother dies on the way giving birth to baby sister Rita. Teresa joins her brother Mario's Canadian farm a few years later. In 1969, Vittorio is teaching Inuit kids with his girlfriend Kate. His half-sister Rita Amherst (Jessica Paré) is living with her adopted family and is being stalked by their estranged father Mario. After a devastating incident, Rita is forced to revisit her past. Aunt Teresa reveals that she has known her father to be Matthew Bok (Kris Kristofferson) all along.

Wow. This turns dark. It starts regular dark and then it goes super dark. Vittorio is such a problematic protagonist. One starts out rooting for him but he just rips out your heart. It's in his blood and it's a tragedy built into his genes. That's why the happy ending seems out of place. It's shot almost like a dream which is exactly what it feels like. This needs a full dark ending or else cut out that one incident. This two part Canadian-Italian mini-series is an adaptation of a book series. I don't know anything about the book and changing major aspects of it can be dangerous. The time jumping could be improved a little. It may be better to do the flashbacks chronologically backwards. The acting is solidly anchored by great veterans. Loren brings gravitas all by herself. Fab Filippo as Vittorio has a difficult task and pulls it off well. Paré is all wild sexuality and a fitting successor to Loren. Kristofferson has the eyes but the movie needs the younger version to paint a picture of his relationship with the mother. This is a TV mini-series that could be turned into an epic theatrical movie if a skilled hand can do some major adapting.