Ciao Bella (2007)

Mustafa Moradi is aching to find a girlfriend. On the other end of the city, Linnea is desperately searching for a guy with style, courage and a burning passion.

Director:

Mani Maserrat Agah (as Mani Maserrat-Agah)

Writer:

Jens Jonsson

Stars:

Poyan Karimi, Chanelle Lindell, Oliver Wahlgren-Ingrosso

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Poyan Karimi	...	Mustafa / Massimo
Chanelle Lindell	...	Linnea
Oliver Wahlgren-Ingrosso	...	Enrico
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mina Azarian	...	Mustafa Massimo's mother
Arash Bolouri	...	Babak
Jan Coster	...	Tränaren
Stefano Della-Schiava	...	Italiensk tränare
Maria Hedborg	...	Nurse
Lotta Karlge	...	Johanna
Hussein Kazem	...	Serder
Krister Kern	...	Kyparen
Jimmy Lindström	...	Linnea's Father
Adam Lundgren	...	Mattias Lindgren
Ali-Reza Modjallal	...	Mustafa's Father
Shebly Niavarani	...	Mustafas uncle

Storyline

CIAO BELLA is a film about yearning for the big love and the insane roller coaster ride of pain, tears and butterflies that comes along with it. In classic Hollywood fashion, we get to follow two teenagers on their journey... straight into each others arms. But there isn't enough time. Just one week. Sometimes life's greatest decisions have to be made at the age of sixteen. Mustafa Moradi is aching to find a girlfriend. The trouble is, girls just want him as their friend. Then suddenly he's struck by a brilliant idea: he'll simply pretend to be Italian. At Gothia Cup. And finally, a world of possibilities presents itself. On the other end of the city, Linnea is desperately searching for a guy with style, courage and a burning passion. Not an easy task for a girl living in Sweden's most tedious and ugly suburb. Who knows what would have become of her, had she not met Massimo, the most romantic Italian in the world.

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Plot Keywords:

barefoot male | bare chested male | italian | crowd | gay kiss | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Sweden]

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish English Persian Italian

Release Date:

3 August 2007 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Mustafa/Massimo

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$725,567

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film i Väst, Götafilm, Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

A Swedish-Iranian Napoleon Dynamite goes cool

I recently saw this at the 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival. writer/director Mani Maserat-Agha was in attendance at my screening for an audience Q&A. From a screenplay by Jens Jonsson Agha explained that he was inspired by the film Breaking Away to make this small budget film. Most of the cast are unknown teenagers including the two principal roles with Poyan Karimi as Mustafa/Massimo and Chanelle Lindell as Linnea. Mustafa is a nerdy Swedish soccer player of Iranian-born parents who along with his team is entered in an annual tournament in Gothborg. There he meets a team from Italy and begins practicing with them. He is groomed by one of the Italian players to attract girls and he takes up the persona of his invention in an Italian named Massimo. As Massimo he soon attracts the eye of the beautiful Swedish teen Linnea who as at the tournament with her flag team for the opening ceremonies. This is a bright and witty romantic comedy with two good lead performances, interesting characters and lot's of dry humor. Caution: it includes some nudity and sexual situations. I liked this a lot and would give it an 8.0 out of 10.