"It's not the movie world that scans the criminal world for the most interesting behavior. The exact opposite is true."
That's one thing director Roberto Saviano investigates in his 2006 novel/exposé, "Gomorrah." Saviano, a journalist, was 26 years old at the time he immersed himself in his subject matter, which deals with the largest organized crime syndicate in Italy.
No, not the Sicilian Mafia we know from films such as "The Godfather," "Casino" and "GoodFellas." It's the Camorra (Italian for "gang") based in and around Naples. While some of the book is fictionalized, as a reporter, Saviano inserted himself in the story, infiltrated the Camorra and when writing the book, named names. It should come as no surprise that the author is now under guard 24 hours a day for his own protection.
American "mob" movies - while filled with violence to be sure - are also filled with colorful (and often wisecracking and sympathetic) characters, some redeeming social values and even good cheer at times.
None of those elements are present in Matteo Garrone's film of Saviano's book. "Gomorrah" - the title is a pun referencing one of the "evil twin cities" of the Bible ¬- is bleak, gritty and offers no redemption or glimmer of hope. There are no elegantly staged gun battles or mob hits, no slow-motion shots of ballet-inspired violence with orchestral music underneath. When someone gets whacked in this film (and many people do), it's "Bang! You're dead." Garrone's style and Director of Photography Marco Onorato's grimy, grainy visuals give "Gomorrah" the look and feel of a documentary. Sometimes the natural outdoor light is a pain on the eyes, which suits the feel of this film perfectly. There's an edgy undercurrent of uneasiness permeating every frame.
There are many separate stories in Saviano's book; Garrone focuses on five intertwining ones in his film. At times, things can get a bit confusing, but don't get frustrated. I eventually got things straight, even if it was several hours after leaving the theater.
The common theme running through the individual stories, and indeed the entire book, is waste: toxic waste, human waste, wasted lives, wasted emotions, wasted hopes.
One story in the film deals with the world of haute couture. The Camorra controls a number of sweatshops whose workers labor endlessly making knockoffs of world famous designers' clothing lines.
There's arms and cocaine dealing. There's a Camorra clan that is illegally disposing of toxic waste for international clients.
In another tale we meet a rather mild-mannered man (the only such character in the entire film) who is a money runner, delivering payoffs to family members of Camorra men who have been jailed, or more than likely, killed.
The most compelling story is the one that focuses on the local youth and their desire to join a Camorra clan. One wonders why a kid would want to do such a thing after witnessing such high body counts year after year. Two of the kids know every scene of Brian DePalma's "Scarface" and dream of taking over a territory of their own. They steal some automatic weapons and go on a mini crime spree, all the while plotting the death of the leader of a Colombian drug cartel who has treated them badly.
It's not spoiling anything to say that the great majority of characters we meet in the film end up somewhere short of their intended goals.
The characters and stories cross paths at different times, and one unifying factor is the backdrop of the decaying housing projects outside of Naples. There's one building in particular that looks like a slum interpretation of a Mexican pyramid. The surroundings aren't as physically overwhelming as those in "Slumdog Millionaire," but they aren't as colorful, either. It's a disconsolate Neopolitan world.
"Gomorrah" is "presented by" Martin Scorsese, one of the premiere directors of gangland films in the history of the cinema. Add to that the fact that it won the grand prize at Cannes in 2008 and the European Film Award and has sold more than half a million tickets in France alone, and it's plain to see this is a serious piece of filmmaking.
It's uncomfortable to watch - nearly all the time - but it's a film that will stick with you for a long time. Camorra and Saviano have broken new ground in the genre, and "Gomorrah" is a must-see film.
Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield freelance writer and musician. He can be reached at info@wunderlesound.com.
