Five inter-woven plot strands paint a picture of the crime families of modern-day Naples.
It is very difficult for me to review this film. Firstly, because I’m an amateur film critic at best, but that applies to everything I write. Secondly, this film has been heaped with so much praise from people much more intelligent than me that I feel a little intimidated. Thirdly, this is not a conventional film. It doesn’t want to give you an easy and satisfying narrative like Hollywood films about the Mafia do, or a character you can sympathise with and root for (this was a big problem for me until I understood the film’s aims). Based on a non-fiction book, it is only trying to expose reality.
In retrospect, this should have been obvious, from the overwhelming use of hand-held camera-work and extreme close-ups, to the overlapping dialogue (presumably improvised by the cast of non-professional actors, as when actors improvise it is structured and not at all like real speech) and the lack of non-diegetic music (when there is music it always a source in the physical world on screen, and abrupt cuts in picture are matched with abrupt cuts in sound). The editing style does you no favours either, moving from one story to another without any sort of transition.
These are not really complaints, more warnings – don’t expect the showy, exciting film promised by the posters and the trailer. It is the absolute antithesis of a film like Goodfellas, that has a similar story to one in this movie, a child trying to work his way up the ranks of the mob, but a completely different tone and style, instead aiming to undo the glamorisation of organised crime.
Speaking of violence, this film’s treatment of it is interesting. It is sudden and senseless, but because of its wide-ranging consequences, very rare. What is more common (and arguably more dangerous) is the casual exploitation of people and the environment, shown by the tailor’s story and the toxic waste dumping story. Again, the complete opposite of Goodfellas, where the crime is offscreen, victimless, and the murders are darkly comic and inconsequential for many of the characters (a much more dangerous impression to give young viewers).
Some could find this film tedious at 131 minutes with (at least for me) no-one to root for except perhaps the tailor. But that is until you realise this movie shares its aims with a documentary: it’s about social awareness, how living this lifestyle is not fun or glamorous, and if countries allow it to continue it hurts everyone.
Verdict: Strong recommend.
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