One of few Italian films I've seen (I'm struggling to think of others, but there must be some), Gomorrah is a dark, multi-stranded tale based on the real-life Camorra crime syndicate.
brilliant...
Reminiscent of the gritty, no-holds-barred Brazilian City of God, Gomorrah is not as easy film to like. There is no lead protagonist, instead the film follows several stories that inter-weave to varying degrees, taking in the corrupt dealings within waste management; gang culture and society, as seen through a tweenage recruit; an aged money man; and a hapless pair who choose to lead a volatile existence outside the mob, and end up paying for their lack of loyalty with their lives. Filmed in some horrible, run down locations, Gomorrah is intriguing and occasionally funny, and often very violent, painting a particularly bleak picture of the culture depicted. The realism and (presumable) authenticity of the settings and stories makes for a thought-provoking drama.
but...
Inevitably, following several strands, it's hard to find characters to invest in, although young Toto (Salvatore Abruzzese), 13-years old, wide-eyed but not so innocent stands out as an outside looking in, serving as a somewhat sympathetic conduit for the viewer. Since this is a film about the Italian mob, it's hyper-masculine and there are few female characters to mention. Gomorrah isn't a film to enjoy, rather one to admire as a piece of modern anti-mob 'propaganda'.
briefly...
Gritty realism uncovering a dark corner of Italian society.
No comments:
Post a Comment