The Raffle (1991)

Before Americans began to know and love Monica Bellucci from Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), Spectre (2015) and Mafia Mamma (2023), the Italian sexpot made her movie debut in The Raffle (1991). Also known as La Riffa (1991), the sexy dramedy follows Francesca (Bellucci) who must deal with debts and the death of her husband. Widowhood is no picnic, not even for an international beauty who is living in a European capital of culture and has a circle of affluent and attentive friends. The busty brunette is left to fend for herself and her infant son when her husband perishes in a fateful car crash. Grieving, gorgeous, and suddenly almost penniless, the brave babe divides her energies between taking a job and warding off the lecherous advances of her dead mate’s former friends, cads, and despoilers who refuse to let his body cool before they attempt to sample the sensual passion of his surviving spouse. What stores of faith and good works will need to be summoned to preserve common decency, not to mention save the widow’s uncommonly wondrous derriere? Francesco Laudadio’s film need not supply a definitive answer so long as it provides plenty of views of Ms. Bellucci in the nude. Luckily, we get to see Monica’s marvelous mams when some clown pounds her 27 minutes into the movie. A little later, the stunner shows off her bountiful Buttlucci! If that’s not erotic enough, the topless hottie straddles a dude before going down on him. Molte grazie!