Penelope Cruz is set to reunite with Italian director Sergio Castellitto in his war tale "Venuto al Mondo" as Gemma, a single mother who brings her teenage son to Sarajevo, where the boy’s father died during the Balkan War. The film is based on an Italian bestseller. The part is a switch for Penelope Cruz, who has until now mostly been sliding between Hollywood- and Spain-based movies.
“I like that it’s a movie that’s not Spanish or English. I love this part of the job that lets you become someone else with a different nationality.”
In an interview with the Italian publication La Repubblica Penelope Cruz commented on playing Gemma, saying, "I feel as an actress Gemma will be playing one of the most important opportunities of my life."
After being shelfed since 2007 Penelope Cruz's film Manolete (originally shot in 2005, four years before Cruz won her Oscar for Vicky Cristina Barcelona) will release on demand via cable, satellite, telco and online in June 7, 2011 under the title, A Madator’s Mistress.