Gomorrah

Be warned, if you like your mobsters lovable, sympathetic or cute, then this film is not for you. Gomorrah is based on the book of the same name authored in Italian by Roberto Saviano. He managed to infiltrate the Neapolitan crime syndicate known as The Camorra, a not so nice version of The Mafia, and as a result of its publication is now under 24 hour police protection. The film focuses on five of the story threads from the book, including a look at two Tony Montana worshipping, troublemaking wannabe gangsters, a master tailor of knock-off fashion, and a very nervous Camorra "bagman". The film also follows a young boy who hopes to become part of the "system" as The Camorra is known, and, it also takes a look at likely the group's most destructive operation, namely their involvement in the illegal dumping of hazardous waste into the local environment. The film bounces back and forth between these various story lines, using a number of local non-professionals to help tell the story. Much of the narrative takes place in an ugly and depressing cement housing complex, which also serves as a huge outdoor drug market. This edifice is certainly a metaphor for the hopeless and exploited lives of it's inhabitants, and the filming emphasizes the ugliness of its environs. I had the advantage of reading the book before seeing the film, which certainly helped in the following of all of the various storylines. Parts of the film might have been a little confusing as the film jumped from story to story with little setup information. It's never made clear that the tailor is making fashion knock-offs, although I knew this of course from reading the book. The film will give you a sense though, of what it's like to live in an area where criminality and hopelessness reign, and where the police have either little interest, or faith, in their ability to fix things. This is certainly a worthwhile film, although the book gives a more complete picture of the situation, and will also increase your appreciation of the film itself.

Rating - 3 Stars