The Raffle

The Raffle (Italian: La riffa) is a 1991 Italian comedy-drama written and directed by Francesco Laudadio. Running about 93 minutes, the film is best known for marking the screen debut of Monica Bellucci, who would go on to become an internationally acclaimed actress. The ensemble around her includes Giulio Scarpati, Massimo Ghini, Marino Masè and Renato Scarpa, familiar faces of Italian cinema of the period. Shot in Italian, the picture blends comic and dramatic tones in the manner of early 1990s Italian filmmaking. While modest in profile compared with the later work of its young star, The Raffle holds a special place in film history as the starting point of Bellucci's career, offering audiences a first glimpse of the performer before her rise to international fame.