Sparrow
Directed by	Franco Zeffirelli
Written by	Giovanni Verga (novel) Franco Zeffirelli Allan Baker
Produced by	Mario Cecchi Gori Vittorio Cecchi Gori Luciano Luna Rita Rusic
Starring	Angela Bettis Johnathon Schaech Vanessa Redgrave Valentina Cortese Frank Finlay
Cinematography	Ennio Guarnieri
Edited by	Richard Marden
Music by	Claudio Capponi Alessio Vlad
Release date	14 October 1994 (United Kingdom)
Running time	106 minutes
Country	Italy
Languages	Italian English

Sparrow (Italian: Storia di una capinera) is a 1993 Italian drama film directed by Franco Zeffirelli.^[1] It is an adaptation of Giovanni Verga's novel Storia di una capinera and was filmed in Sicily in 1993.^[2] It stars Angela Bettis, and premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival in October 1993. It was the final film performance of Valentina Cortese.

Plot

In the Two Sicilies, in cholera-ridden Sicily of 1854, Maria, a future nun, is evacuated from her convent home in Catania to her father's Mount Etna-shadowed villa. During her stay she falls in love with Nino, a family friend. But things fall apart when Catania is declared safe for her to return to Sicily, meaning she must renounce her love and concentrate on serving God.

Cast

• Angela Bettis as Maria
• Johnathon Schaech as Nino
• Vanessa Redgrave as Sister Agata
• Valentina Cortese as Mother Superior
• Frank Finlay as Father Nunzio
• Sinéad Cusack as Matilde
• Denis Quilley as Baron Cesaro
• Pat Heywood as Sister Teresa
• Eva Alexander as Annetta
• John Castle as Giuseppe
• Gareth Thomas as Corrado
• Andrea Cassar as Gigi

Awards and nominations

The film was awarded and nominated for awards in Italy and Portugal.^[3]

David di Donatello Awards

• David Award for Best Costume Design (Migliore Costumista) - Piero Tosi (won)

Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (Nastro d'Argento)

• Silver Ribbon for Best Costume Design - Piero Tosi (won)

Gramado Film Festival

• Golden Kikito Award for Best Latin Film (Melhor Filme) - Franco Zeffirelli (nomination)