Gomorrah

An unflinching look at the way the mafia corrupts and poisons, both literally and figuratively, a rundown area of Naples, Gomorrah is thought-provoking if a little emotionally bereft.

I think this is part of the point, though, and full credit goes to director Matteo Garrone for presenting the interweaving stories with an unglamourized naturalism; no slickly edited montages set to Gimme Shelter here. The characters are not heroes who are thrust by the fates into circumstances beyond their control but willing participants who have made choices that with which they are willing to live, and in some cases, die. The greatest success of the film is in demonstrating how the vicious cycle of violence is perpetuated.

Its one possible slight failing is its inability, at times, to really engage the audience emotionally. Few if any of the characters are very sympathetic. As the story progresses, the sheer volume of executions and shootings begin to numb most viewers; I don't think it was my imagination that most of the folks shuffling out of the theatre after the screening seemed vaguely indifferent.

Still, there's something to be said for a film that kept me thinking for the next few days.

Recommend.