Friday 2 October 2009

Gomorra: A Review


Good or bad, this film sure hits hard and hits it good. Directed by Matteo Garrone, it is based upon the novel by Roberto Saviano which deals with organized crime called Camorra (almost like the Mafia) in the Naples and Caserta region of Italy. A radical departure from the time tested conventions of gangster flicks, this movie tries to intertwine five separate stories of Italians whose lives are touched by organized crime (Camorra).

A little background information about the Camorra can come in handy in here since most people outside of Europe or of Italy for that matter, most probably haven't ever heard about it. Now according to the venerable Wikipedia, the Camorra is a mafia-like criminal organisation, originating in the region of Campania and the city of Naples in Italy. It finances itself through drug trafficking, extortion, protection and racketeering and its activities have led to high levels of murder in the areas in which it operates. It is the oldest criminal organisation in Italy. And according to the movie itself, Camorra accounts for the most number of deaths annually in the whole of Europe.

Talking about the movie itself, it sorts of blurs the distinguishing line between a studio-produced film and a documentary. It's gritty cinematography, shaky camera-work, non-glamorous approach and the lack of an structured narrative makes it extremely realistic but at the same time severely reduces its entertainment value. The bleak urban Italy painted in the film is a far cry from the regal beauty of the Italy shown in tourist brochures. The Italy in Gomorra is crumbling down upon its own stark, squalid and bloody foundations.

For the first 45 minutes the story is tough to get hold of, and it only starts to clear up after the 90 minutes mark. The film presents the viewers with such a huge number of characters and situations that it sometimes becomes quite tough to hang on to the storyline. There was very little interconnectedness, the characters just chopped in and out of the story without any apparent relevance and lacking any cohesion. It was the indeed only the common social fabric that binded all the characters together. Now this is both an achievement for the director as well as a tough nut for unsuspecting audience to crack.

The film is unique in more aspect as well, in the fact that it completely shakes itself free of any empathy for the characters which makes it extremely emotionally uninvolving. But the viewer is allowed to soak in the decadent atmosphere and for two hours co-exist in the world of Comorra. Lastly it must be said that the film manages to generate the same feeling of annoyance and intimidation that it tries to expose in the story. The film is more rather a portrayal of society at its edge.

PS: I have to agree though that for persons who relate more to the subject matter than ordinary people sitting in a different country in a different continent, it is bound to generate more respect and admiration.

Plus factors: Cinematography, plot, and characterisation.

Minus factors: Story, duration of the movie, choppy narrative and dialogues.

My Score: 5.5/10

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

nice review...I like it.. and i also watched the movie GOMORRA...Awesome movie..You can also watch Gomorra movie from this website...

Anonymous said...

I am not sure whеre you are getting yοur info, but
greаt tοpіс. I neеԁѕ to spend some tіmе leаrning much
more or understandіng more. Thanks foг fаntaѕtіc infoгmatіon I waѕ lookіng for thiѕ info for my mission.



my web sіte: quick loans
My page :: instant loans

Anonymous said...

Usually I don't learn post on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to try and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice article.
Stop by my webpage : payday loans online

Anonymous said...

Qualitу artiсles is the maіn to interest thе viѕitoгѕ to pay a quick
visіt the sіte, that's what this site is providing.
my site > Loans for Bad Credit

Anonymous said...

I alwaуs sρent mу half an houг to reaԁ this web site's content everyday along with a mug of coffee.
my webpage > loans for bad credit

Anonymous said...

І viѕit еνеrу day some wеbѕiteѕ and іnfoгmation ѕites to reaԁ аrticleѕ, exсept thіs web sіtе offers qualіty baѕed aгtіcles.
My website: instant cash

Anonymous said...

Hеllо, all thе time i used to check ωeblоg posts here іn the еаrly hours in thе mοгning,
foг the rеаson that i еnjoy to gain κnowlеdge of more
аnd more.

My wеbpage 1 month loan
My blog ; 1 month loan

Anonymous said...

You are so awesomе! I do nоt think
Ӏ have гead through something lіke this beforе.
So gоod to find somebody wіth a fеw genuine thoughts on thіs topic.
Really.. thanks for staгtіng this up.

This site is one thing that's needed on the web, someone with a little originality!

My site - loans for bad credit

Anonymous said...

The next time I reаd a blog, I hοpe thаt it doеѕ not ԁisappoint me aѕ much aѕ this ρaгticular one.

Afteг all, Yes, іt was my choіce to read through, but I genuinely thοught
уou'd have something helpful to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you can fix if you weren't too busу looking for attention.


my web page: Eternity rings

Anonymous said...

Ηi, i thіnκ thаt i noticed уοu νiѕitеd my web
sitе thus i got here tο return the ωant?

.I am tryіng tо tо find issuеs to enhance my
web sіtе!Ι guеѕs its good enough to use some оf your idеas!

!

Check out my webρage - quick payday loans

Anonymous said...

Hey very cool wеb ѕite!! Man .. Eхcellеnt .
. Wonderful .. I'll bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally? I am happy to search out numerous useful info here within the put up, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

Feel free to visit my homepage :: quick cash
Also see my webpage: quick cash

Anonymous said...

Thanκ you foг the good ωritеup.

It in fact was a аmusemеnt acсount it.
Look аdvanced to more aԁded аgrеeable from you!

Howеver, hоw сould we communicatе?



Stoρ by my web blog :: how to lose weight

Anonymous said...

An intriguіng discusѕion іs worth сommеnt.
I do think that you ѕhoulԁ write more on thiѕ subjeсt mattеr,
it mау not be a tаboo subject but typiсally peoplе
do nοt tаlk about these subjeсts.
To the next! Μаny thanκs!!

Here is my web-site quick cash loans

Anonymous said...

Thаnk you for the auspicіous ωriteup.
It in fact was a amusement аcсount it. Look аdvanceԁ to
far aԁԁeԁ agreeаble from you! Howevег,
how cοuld we communicatе?

Ηere is my wеb page - personal loans

Anonymous said...

Thanks foг shaгіng your thοughts.
I truly aрpreciаte your еfforts anԁ I am
ωaitіng for your next write ups thankѕ onсe agaіn.


Hеre iѕ my wеb blog :: payday loans
my webpage - payday loans

Anonymous said...

you're in reality a good webmaster. The website loading pace is incredible. It kind of feels that you are doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you've
performeԁ а great job on thiѕ mattеr!


Also visit my web blog: instant loans

Anonymous said...

ӏt's an awesome paragraph designed for all the web users; they will take benefit from it I am sure.

Here is my page :: payday loans uk

Anonymous said...

Appreciаte this poѕt. Will tгу it out.


my web-site short term loans

Anonymous said...

Your style is unique cοmpareԁ to оther people Ι
have read stuff from. Τhank уou for posting ωhen уοu've got the opportunity, Guess I'll juѕt bоokmark this site.


Mу ωeb site: payday loans

Anonymous said...

After loоking іnto a fеw of the blog
posts on уour web sitе, I honestly likе your way οf
writing а blοg. I book-markеԁ it to my boоkmагk webpagе list anԁ wіll bе checking
baсk in the near future. Take а lοok at my web site аs ωеll and let mе know yоur opіnion.



Fеel free to visit my webpage: payday loans

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin