Fantaghirò 3

Infobox Film
name = Fantaghirò 3
caption = German DVD cover
director = Lamberto Bava
producer = Lamberto Bava
Andrea Piazzesi
writer = Gianni Romoli
starring = Alessandra Martines
Ursula Andress
Brigitte Nielsen
music = Amedeo Minghi
cinematography = Romano Albani
editing = Piero Bozza
distributor =
released = 1993
runtime =
country = Italy
language = Italian
budget =
preceded_by = Fantaghirò 2
followed_by = Fantaghirò 4
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0105997

"Fantaghirò 3" (also known as "The Cave of the Golden Rose 3") is the third film from the Fantaghirò series. It is directed by Lamberto Bava and stars Alessandra Martines as the title character. It originally aired on television in 1993 as a two-parter, and hence is alternately titled as a double-set of "Fantaghirò 5" and "Fantaghirò 6" in certain releases. Kim Rossi Stuart, who played the hero in the previous two films, returned in this film but his role was much reduced.

ynopsis

The evil wizard Tarabas has learned of a prophecy that a royal child no older than ten is destined to destroy his evil kingdom. Shocked to learn that he isn't invincible, Tarabas sends his clay soldiers out to kidnap all the royal children of the world. His mother, Xellesia, disapproves of this, but Tarabas is obsessed with learning how he will be defeated. Among the children he targets are the babies of Caterina and Carolina, Fantaghirò's sisters.

Fantaghirò and Romualdo protect the babies from the clay soldiers, but during the battle, Romualdo accidentally falls into a cursed river and turns into a stone statue. Fantaghirò seeks the help of the Elf Queen to cure Romualdo, but she is told that only "The Impossible Kiss" (i.e. the kiss of Tarabas) can cure Romualdo.

Fantaghirò decides to track down Tarabas by following his clay soldiers. When she comes across the clay soldiers attacking another castle, she intervenes. However, she is too late to save the King, who with his dying breath asks Fantaghirò to take care of his daughter, Princess Smeralda. Fantaghirò agrees, and takes Smeralda away to safety.

Tarabas, who has learned about Fantaghirò's quest, deliberately crosses paths with Fantaghirò and Smeralda as they are travelling in the forest. He claims to be a common traveller, and they agree to camp together for the night for safety. Although Smeralda is suspicious, Fantaghirò doesn't suspect anything. As they sleep, Tarabas is overcome with desire to kiss Fantaghirò, but as soon as he approaches her, he starts to transform into a hideous beast.

Tarabas runs away from the camp, and as soon as he does, the transformation ceases and he returns to his human form. He is confronted by Xellesia, who explains that the dark magic within him doesn't allow him to fall in love, for as soon as he tries to kiss the one he desires, he will be transformed into a beast to devour them.

Fantaghirò and Smeralda continue on their journey, and are reunited with Lightning and Bolt who have a new plan to track down Tarabas. They resurrect the Dark Witch and hold her heart hostage, promising to give her back her heart if she helps them find Tarabas. The Dark Witch reluctantly agrees, and leads them to Tarabas' underground lair.

There, Fantaghirò is shocked to learn that the man she'd befriended in the forest is the feared Tarabas. Tarabas agrees to give Fantaghirò the Impossible Kiss if she will marry him. Fantaghirò agrees. Tarabas chains himself up to prevent himself from devouring Fantaghirò, and they kiss. The magic of the Impossible Kiss is captured by the Dark Witch, who promises to take it back to Romualdo. As Fantaghirò is preparing to marry Tarabas, she is told by Lighting and Bolt that the Dark Witch has broken her promise, and the power of the Impossible Kiss is waning.

Tarabas agrees to let Fantaghirò go, if she will promise to return him. Fantaghirò promises and chases after the Dark Witch, but it is too late. Although Romualdo cannot be revived, Fantaghirò keeps her promise and returns to Tarabas. But Tarabas has had a change of heart and lets Fantaghirò go, realising that this is the only way to prove his love for her. A second Impossible Kiss is made when Tarabas kisses Smeralda, whom he has also grown to care for. This second kiss revives Romualdo, the pair are finally married, and they adopt Smeralda as their daughter.

Cast

* Alessandra Martines as Fantaghirò
* Ursula Andress as Xellesia
* Nicholas Rogers as Tarabas
* Elena D'Ippolito as Smeralda
* Kim Rossi Stuart as Romualdo
* Brigitte Nielsen as Dark Witch
* Lenca Kubalkova as Bolt
* Jakub Zdenek as Lightning
* Anna Geislerová as Queen of Elves

ee also

* Fantaghirò series

External links

*imdb title|0105997|Fantaghiro 3