Film Reviews

Il Divo

• Rating:
• Director: Paulo Sorrentino.
• Starring: Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Piera Degli Esposti, Paulo Graziosi.
• Details: Italy / 110 mins (TBC).

Curse my lack of knowledge of Italian politics. If I were up to speed on the ins and outs and the dirty handshakes it takes to make the system work, Il Divo would be a far more enjoyable film rather than just an interesting one. Sorrentino (The Family Friend) does his best to bring the uninitiated up to speed with a title sequence that gives the background to his film, but there's so much information to be digested by the fast-moving captions I would have been just as lost had I missed them. What is discernable is that this is a biopic of Italy's Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, whom we meet when he has just been elected for the seventh time. This tenure, however, is beset by allegations of mafia involvement and assassinations of political journalists and opposition. Il Divo is the Casino of Italian politics: the wandering plot that takes in a host of characters all linked to the one main protagonist brings to mind Scorsese's Las Vegas venture; the heavy use of music and violence removes any doubt that Sorrentino is a fan. Despite the highly styled direction, it’s the performance that's the grabber more than anything else. Servillo, who impressed in Gomorra, takes his cue from Nosferatu's Max Schrek - with his horned ears, straight back and hunched shoulders, Andreotti is like a character from a horror rather than a statesman. The director paints Andreotti like a devil, but a devil that understands that evil is necessary for good to triumph. Imagine a devil that worries about his legacy? What an interesting character. To save him from being despicable, Servillo brings humour to what we can only assume is a cold character and Servillo should be in with a shout come Oscar season next year. Funny, witty and bleak, Il Divo will find it tough to recognise its audience but those who do see it will have a lot to chew over.

Review by Gavin Burke