The Moon and the Stars

VIVENDI
Street: Feb. 10
Prebook: Jan. 13
> Period piece meshes classic filmmaking lore with wartime politics.

This English-language European production takes filmgoers behind the scenes of Rome’s famed Cinecitta Studios in 1939, just when Fascism began to impact the country as the brownshirts rose to power. The story focuses on the filming of a non-operatic version of Puccini’s Tosca, which involves such principal players as a gay Jewish-Italian producer (Alfred Molina), a German actress (Catherine McCormack), a money-seeking British actor (Jonathan Pryce) and a Hungarian director (András Bálint). Filled with references to Casablanca and other works of the day, the film is at times reminiscent of such acclaimed movies about moviemaking as Francois Truffaut’s Day for Night and John Schlesinger’s Day of the Locust. But The Moon and the Stars—helmed by veteran filmmaker John Irvin (Hamburger Hill)—lacks the sweetness of the former and dramatic punch of the latter.

Shelf Talk: Except for some festival playdates, this title never made it to U.S. theaters, but film savvy audiences and 20th century history fans should show some interest, especially with its first-class cast. The film’s title doesn’t really fit the subject matter, but Vivendi will clarify with e-mail blasts and online support.