Review of Il Divo (2008) by Rachel M — 11 Jun 2009

I talked about this movie trailer last week, and I have to say the beauty and energy of this film was wonderfully translated by the trailer. I walked into this film a little late, having been confined to the office for most of the weekend to meet a deadline, I attempted to put a hard line on my escape route and eventual enjoyment of this film. However I ended up walking in after the opening credits, panting because I had practically run down the street to try and get to see the film on time. The theater was decently filled, with scattered couples silhouetted against the screen, some looking over as I fumbled my way to the seat.

I walked into this film with pretty high expectations, the trailer was a work of art and it was boasting a Cannes Gold Lion and a Best Actor's award -- so of course, it had to be good. I was hardly dissapointed, the acting was on par, the cinematography brilliant, and the coloration and tone of each scene was just-so. There was only one problem, as someone who is not an Italian or engrossed in European politics, I was hardly aware of what all Italians have known for decades: directly or indirectly Andreotti is behind all major events that have happened in Italy in the last 45 years. This is what they know, as they all knew that virtually all politicians at all level were (and are) robbing the public funds and make private deals with business men. The movie shows exactly this: they know it but theydo not have the evidences.

However, as an (ignorant) American, I had no idea what kind of context that this had aside from what the trailer told me -- that he was a corrupt polititian on par with Al Capone in the breadth of his work and immersion in crime. To me, this was amazing, how could one so corrupt seemingly rule a country for so long? Lifetime senator? That's just preposterous! I felt that the impact would be very similar to a film about Dick Cheney or Karl Rove coming out in a foreign country, where there are people and references made and named without much context given, it's assumed that you understand. This I have to say was the sole problem that I had with the film, and I feel that I would have reacted in a much more positive fashion if I'd simply had more knowledge.

The strength of the movie rests on the capacity to describe a personality that is so powerful that does not need to speak, does not need to go on TV, he is able to make things happen in a way that only Andreotti knows. Andreotti is above the politics, above the Church, above finance, above mafia, he is depicted as a power that stands on its own, someone who uses all the different leverages to rule. Toni Servillo (whom I also saw recently in the Italian Mobster film Gomorrah) deserves every accolade bestowed upon him for this role, because it is clearly the role of the century, very well done and acted to the T. I went back and watched videos of the actual Andreotti and was astounded by his work, though the character may be a little overexaggerated -- it was clearly brilliant.

8 out of 10 for being purely awesome. Not recommended to people who dislike reading lots of subtitles. The -2 points is my being selfish, because I don't understand Italian politics, and I had difficulty deciphering the difference between reality and fiction at some points in the movie.