Genre:
Thriller
Theatrical Release: 07/02/2003(USA
Release Date: 11/11/2003
SubTitles: English
Dubbed: Italian
Run Time: 90 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Strong Sexual Content
Distributor/Studio: Strand Home Video
Two women on the run from the law soon find they have more than the cops to contend with in this feminist
thriller from Italy.
Eleonora (
Mariella Valentini) learns that her daughter
Lenni (
Regina Orioli), a teenage runaway, is working at a run-down gas station in a small town, and decides to pay her a visit.
Eleonora is quite surprised to discover that
Lenni also happens to be involved in a lesbian relationship with
Stella (
Maya Sansa), a mechanic who runs the station. While glad to see her daughter,
Eleonora makes no secret of her indignation, and after a heated argument
Eleonora winds up dead.
Lenni and
Stella set out to find a safe place to hide the body, but, en route, they're trailed by three sexist toughs (
Chiara Conti,
Marco Quaglia, and
Pietro Ragusa) whose childish taunting escalates into violence, forcing the women to fight fire with fire. As if they didn't have enough problems,
Lenni and
Stella must also contend with the spirit of
Eleonora, who, even in death, will not keep her uncharitable opinions to herself.
Benzina made its North American premier at the
2002 Toronto Film Festival.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide