Fantaghirò 2
Encyclopedia
Fantaghirò 2 is the second television film in the Fantaghirò series. It is directed by Lamberto Bava
and stars Alessandra Martines
as the title character, with Kim Rossi Stuart
and Brigitte Nielsen
in other main roles. It originally aired in 1992
as a two-parter (and so is known in certain releases
as Fantaghirò 3 and Fantaghirò 4). Most of the principal cast of the previous film returned for this installment.
, Princess Fantaghirò and Prince Romualdo are due to be married. The beautiful but evil Black Witch, queen of a neighbouring Dark Kingdom, is disgusted by their love and wishes to destroy it, and to this end she kidnaps Fantaghirò's father. The couple decide to hold off their wedding, and Romualdo leads their army to save Fantaghirò's father. On the journey to the Dark Kingdom, Romualdo and his men encounter Forest Elves and their Queen, who force them to submit to a series of tests to prove that their intentions are pure. Romualdo passes and the army continue on their way. They eventually reach the borders to the Dark Kingdom where they make camp for the night before attacking the castle. As they are resting, the Dark Queen (disguised to look like Fantaghirò) arrives and seduces Romualdo to kiss her.
Elsewhere, the real Fantaghirò has decided to secretly go to the Dark Kingdom on her own. She cuts off her hair and travels with her horse Golden Mane. Along the way she encounters bandits led by the Lemon Gobbler, but she manages to escape. She soon arrives at Romualdo's camp, which has been left abandoned. Fantaghirò enters the Dark Castle and learns that Romualdo's men have all been thrown in the dungeon. She negotiates with the Dark King to have a single duel between Fantaghirò and the Dark Kingdom's champion to decide the victor, with the losing kingdom submitting to the other. The Dark King agrees. Unknown to Fantaghirò, the Black Witch's kiss has erased Fantaghirò from Romualdo's mind and caused him to fall desperately in lustful love with the witch herself. Fantaghirò is horrified to discover that she has to fight her beloved, who does not recognise her.
While the duel is going on, the Black Witch's minions Bolt and Lightning rebel against their mistress. Bolt poisons the Black Witch, and when she falls asleep, they release Romualdo's men from the dungeon. Cataldo and Ivaldo subdue Romualdo, stopping him before he kills Fantaghirò. Everyone quickly flees from the castle, taking the Dark King with them as hostage. Everyone manages to escape the Dark Kingdom except Romualdo, who runs back to the Dark Witch, and Fantaghirò, who goes after Romualdo. Fantaghirò and the evil witch then face-off, with Fantaghirò emerging victorious after a battle of wits, destroying her adversary. The Dark King is unmasked as being Fantaghirò's father, and now that the spell that had been placed on him is broken, the group return to their kingdom.
However, Romualdo's memories have not returned to him. Fantaghirò, with the help of the White Witch, recreates the events of the previous film
where they crossed paths for the first time. Romualdo starts to regain his memories but in doing so, it is revealed that a piece of the Black Witch has been hiding in his mind, and the witch appears and transforms Fantaghirò into a lowly creature off-screen. The White Witch comes to their rescue by using Lighting (who has transformed into an arrow) to finish-off the Black Witch. Romualdo then guesses correctly that Fantaghirò has been turned into an ugly toad, and upon kissing her, the two are reunited again.
(the witch's castle in the film), Bouzov Castle
, an artificial castle in Lednice
and in-studio in Bratislava
by a mixed Italian/Czechoslovak
crew. Kim Rossi Stuart claimed that he enjoyed the role of the evil Romulado (nicknamed "Romulo" by the film crew), really longing to "get back into the witch's arms", and during the scene of their fight between Romualdo and Fantaghiro, his sword even struck Martines in the head, luckily causing no severe injury.
hailed the film maker Lamberto Bava, saying that he has learnt the lessons of his father
and comparing his work to Ridley Scott
's Legend
, also applauding Nielsen for her role as the Black Witch.
Lamberto Bava
Lamberto Bava is an Italian film director, specializing in horror and fantasy films.Bava was born in Rome, Italy, the son of cinematographer/director Mario Bava, and grandson of cameraman Eugenio Bava...
and stars Alessandra Martines
Alessandra Martines
Alessandra Martines is an Italian-French dancer and actress.-Biography:She is best known for her portrayal of Princess Fantaghirò in the Fantaghirò series and her interpretations under the direction of her ex husband, the French director Claude Lelouch, in several movies Alessandra Martines (born...
as the title character, with Kim Rossi Stuart
Kim Rossi Stuart
Kim Rossi Stuart is an Italian actor and director.-Career:Kim Rossi Stuart was born in Rome. His father, Giacomo, was also an actor. His mother was a former top model.He began acting at the age of 5...
and Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
in other main roles. It originally aired in 1992
1992 in film
The year 1992 in film involved many significant films. -Top grossing films:-Awards:Academy AwardsGolden Globe AwardsNational Film Awards...
as a two-parter (and so is known in certain releases
Film release
A film release is the stage at which a completed film is legally authorized by its owner for public distribution.The process includes locating a distributor to handle the film...
as Fantaghirò 3 and Fantaghirò 4). Most of the principal cast of the previous film returned for this installment.
Synopsis
Following the events of the first filmFantaghirò
Fantaghirò is a fantasy television film produced by Reteitalia, directed by Lamberto Bava and starring Alessandra Martines. It originally aired in 1991 as a two-parter, and hence has been known in certain video releases and airings as double-set of Fantaghirò 1 and Fantaghirò 2. It is the first...
, Princess Fantaghirò and Prince Romualdo are due to be married. The beautiful but evil Black Witch, queen of a neighbouring Dark Kingdom, is disgusted by their love and wishes to destroy it, and to this end she kidnaps Fantaghirò's father. The couple decide to hold off their wedding, and Romualdo leads their army to save Fantaghirò's father. On the journey to the Dark Kingdom, Romualdo and his men encounter Forest Elves and their Queen, who force them to submit to a series of tests to prove that their intentions are pure. Romualdo passes and the army continue on their way. They eventually reach the borders to the Dark Kingdom where they make camp for the night before attacking the castle. As they are resting, the Dark Queen (disguised to look like Fantaghirò) arrives and seduces Romualdo to kiss her.
Elsewhere, the real Fantaghirò has decided to secretly go to the Dark Kingdom on her own. She cuts off her hair and travels with her horse Golden Mane. Along the way she encounters bandits led by the Lemon Gobbler, but she manages to escape. She soon arrives at Romualdo's camp, which has been left abandoned. Fantaghirò enters the Dark Castle and learns that Romualdo's men have all been thrown in the dungeon. She negotiates with the Dark King to have a single duel between Fantaghirò and the Dark Kingdom's champion to decide the victor, with the losing kingdom submitting to the other. The Dark King agrees. Unknown to Fantaghirò, the Black Witch's kiss has erased Fantaghirò from Romualdo's mind and caused him to fall desperately in lustful love with the witch herself. Fantaghirò is horrified to discover that she has to fight her beloved, who does not recognise her.
While the duel is going on, the Black Witch's minions Bolt and Lightning rebel against their mistress. Bolt poisons the Black Witch, and when she falls asleep, they release Romualdo's men from the dungeon. Cataldo and Ivaldo subdue Romualdo, stopping him before he kills Fantaghirò. Everyone quickly flees from the castle, taking the Dark King with them as hostage. Everyone manages to escape the Dark Kingdom except Romualdo, who runs back to the Dark Witch, and Fantaghirò, who goes after Romualdo. Fantaghirò and the evil witch then face-off, with Fantaghirò emerging victorious after a battle of wits, destroying her adversary. The Dark King is unmasked as being Fantaghirò's father, and now that the spell that had been placed on him is broken, the group return to their kingdom.
However, Romualdo's memories have not returned to him. Fantaghirò, with the help of the White Witch, recreates the events of the previous film
Fantaghirò
Fantaghirò is a fantasy television film produced by Reteitalia, directed by Lamberto Bava and starring Alessandra Martines. It originally aired in 1991 as a two-parter, and hence has been known in certain video releases and airings as double-set of Fantaghirò 1 and Fantaghirò 2. It is the first...
where they crossed paths for the first time. Romualdo starts to regain his memories but in doing so, it is revealed that a piece of the Black Witch has been hiding in his mind, and the witch appears and transforms Fantaghirò into a lowly creature off-screen. The White Witch comes to their rescue by using Lighting (who has transformed into an arrow) to finish-off the Black Witch. Romualdo then guesses correctly that Fantaghirò has been turned into an ugly toad, and upon kissing her, the two are reunited again.
Cast
- Alessandra MartinesAlessandra MartinesAlessandra Martines is an Italian-French dancer and actress.-Biography:She is best known for her portrayal of Princess Fantaghirò in the Fantaghirò series and her interpretations under the direction of her ex husband, the French director Claude Lelouch, in several movies Alessandra Martines (born...
as Fantaghiro - Kim Rossi StuartKim Rossi StuartKim Rossi Stuart is an Italian actor and director.-Career:Kim Rossi Stuart was born in Rome. His father, Giacomo, was also an actor. His mother was a former top model.He began acting at the age of 5...
as Romualdo - Brigitte NielsenBrigitte NielsenBrigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
as Black Witch / Dark Queen - Stefano Davanzati as Cataldo
- Tomás Valík as Ivaldo
- Mario AdorfMario AdorfMario Adorf is a German film and stage actor, best known for his lead role in the 1978 film The Tin Drum.-Biography:...
as King - Lenca Kubálková as Bolt
- Jakub Zdeněk as Lightning
- Karel RodenKarel RodenKarel Roden is a Czech actor, known for his roles in Hellboy and The Bourne Supremacy.Roden's father and grandfather were also actors. After studying theatrical art in Prague he has played many roles in theatres and movies. First, he graduated school of ceramic, then he was admitted to the Academy...
as Goldeye - Anna GeislerováAnna GeislerováAnna Geislerová aka Aňa Geislerová is a Czech actress.Anna became well known for her role as Eliška/Hana in the 2003 movie Želary and as Anna in the 1999 movie Return of the Idiot...
as Queen of Elves - Barbora KodetováBarbora KodetováBarbora Kodetová is a Czech actress perhaps best known for her portrayal of Paul Atreides' companion Chani in the 2000 television miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune and its 2003 sequel, Frank Herbert's Children of Dune....
as Caterina - Kateřina Brožová as Carolina
Production
The film was shot at Bojnice CastleBojnice Castle
Bojnice Castle is a castle in Bojnice, Slovakia. It hosts the single most popular museum in Slovakia and has featured in many movies....
(the witch's castle in the film), Bouzov Castle
Bouzov Castle
Bouzov Castle is an early 14th-century fortress first mentioned in 1317. It was built on a hill between the village of Hvozdek and the town of Bouzov, 21 km west of Litovel and 28 km northwest of Olomouc, in Moravia, Czech Republic...
, an artificial castle in Lednice
Lednice
Lednice is a village in South Moravia in the Czech Republic. In 1996 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an exceptional example of the designed landscape that evolved in the Enlightenment and afterwards under the care of a single family." It contains a palace and the largest...
and in-studio in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
by a mixed Italian/Czechoslovak
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
crew. Kim Rossi Stuart claimed that he enjoyed the role of the evil Romulado (nicknamed "Romulo" by the film crew), really longing to "get back into the witch's arms", and during the scene of their fight between Romualdo and Fantaghiro, his sword even struck Martines in the head, luckily causing no severe injury.
Reception
Fantaghiro 2 proved to be commercial success, receiving the audience of 9,160,000 (30,6%) when first broadcast in Italy. The daily Corriere della SeraCorriere della Sera
The Corriere della Sera is an Italian daily newspaper, published in Milan.It is among the oldest and most reputable Italian newspapers. Its main rivals are Rome's La Repubblica and Turin's La Stampa.- History :...
hailed the film maker Lamberto Bava, saying that he has learnt the lessons of his father
Mario Bava
Mario Bava was an Italian director, screenwriter, and cinematographer remembered as one of the greatest names from the "golden age" of Italian horror films.-Biography:Mario Bava was born in San Remo, Liguria, Italy...
and comparing his work to Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
's Legend
Legend (film)
Legend is a 1985 fantasy film released by Universal Pictures, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, and Tim Curry. Though not a very notable success when first released, it received a single Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup, and since its initial release, has developed...
, also applauding Nielsen for her role as the Black Witch.