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Stranizza d'amuri (2023)
Authentic in its own way
As a Sicilian who was 13 during the World Cup, I find incredible levels of authenticity together with a representation of the places and of the social relationship that resembles more the 50s than the 80s. Nevertheless this film has given me real emotions, and appreciate the effort not to sugarcoat anything. But the story between the boys is so real and intense, and so delicate, didn't really need to have a brutal background to come forward. Maybe it was all like that, but that would have been a bit of an outlier, the place where the facts happened is a tourist destination and a commercial hub. Yet I've given 10 because in some places and at some time every single piece of land, language, dialogue, emotions, behaviour would have been real, and they are all portrayed magnificently.
Il capo dei capi (2007)
Every detail is believable
I am a Sicilian and I also happen to know quite well all the characters represented, apart from Schiro' which is the only fictional one. I am amazed at the way Sicily and the Sicilians are portrayed: so accurate. The dialogues, the accents, the tics, the looks in their eyes are incredibly real. A lot of the actors are not Sicilians yet they manage to capture the essence of the culture of the island. Never during the series does anyone speaks in a less than perfect Sicilian (with a Palermo accent even). The Sicilian dialogues in the Godfather are ridiculous... But apart from this, the series manages to show how it is possible that someone after all so ignorant like Riina becomes so powerful, because he's very smart and clever, and uses his own code of communication in which he's very articulate. The mixture between reality and fiction never comes to the detriment of one or the other, it's a perfectly fine balance. I appreciate that Sicily is not abused in the photography, the background is never too idyllic or too crude. A real masterpiece!
Il divo (2008)
Not just about Andreotti
Andreotti was a man who never showed any emotions, if not a caustic sense of humour. He was powerful, but he was the head of a minority faction of the Christian Democrats. His power was hidden, but he always stood up to help his friends. Vatican, Mafia, Secrets Services and Dirty Money. But not for him. Although I was always disgusted as an Italian by what he represented, I always felt that he was serving a purpose and that his acts fitted Machiavelli's quote "The end justifies the means". Just a feeling, because I never knew what "the end" actually was. Surely this man was the anti-Berlusconi. Andeotti didn't like how he was portrayed, and kept a grudge. The film is great, because it captures the essence of the man and of the politician and Sorrentino's technique is one of a kind. But it's not just about Giulio. His men are such strong characters. Paolo Cirino Pomicino always introduced by a samba is pure genius, unfortunately non-Italians will not be able to appreciate. Salvo Lima's dark presage of the Mafia closing in on promises that could not be delivered counters that. And Franco Evangelisti, who took care of his electoral stronghold in non-urban Lazio, could only be portrayed as colourless as he was. And then the highlight: the kiss with Toto' Riina, the savage and cruel head of Mafia, on which the Italian media have focused so much and for so long. It was not easy to make such film, but Sorrentino's ability to mix different genres, the use of music and photography, and the much needed dose of laughs have delivered a masterpiece.