another italian film highlighting life in and around the underworld
last week's opening night film set in sicily and the hold of the mafia
this film set in northern italy and based around the area of calabria
not in the opening scenes though - 2 men in black waiting on a pier
a powered inflatable approaches, they embark and it heads away
it travels across a busy harbour and pulls up to a luxury stinkboat
the lads are ushered inside and are engaged in a brisk discussion
a large drug deal it seems - delivery point and payment is arranged
next we see the lads driving away from amsterdam with one other
bespectacled rocco is at the wheel of a late model black merc
his brother luigi - one of the deal negotiators - sits alongside him
despite rocco's protestations he convinces him to stop at a farm
luigi and the other negotiator get out of the car with weapons out
a hit seems likely and yes - but not humans - a goat is the target
bundled into the boot and they speed off through the countryside
we then see a teenager in a small wreck of a fiat with a friend
pulls into an abandoned barn and inside finds some hidden guns
they head off to a cafe and from the outside the place is razed
he arrives home to the questioning of his goat-herder father
we learn that luciano (father of leo) is rocco and luigi's brother
he having left behind his gangster brothers for a quiet rural life
and now concerned his son is drawn to their way of life over his
more so as leo soon announces he is going to join his uncles in milan
it's good to see milan central railway station as he dismounts a train
met by his doting uncle luigi and taken in his luxury audi to his home
but things are not good with luciano - the shot-up cafe not a good target
owned by the rival gang in town and luciano threatened by the boss man
deal with it or there will be consequences - his quiet life now at threat
i'm liking this film - very subdued colours to match the mood of it all
and a human element to it all with immediate and extended families
elder brother luciano invites his two brothers and families to visit
luigi visits the rival gang and offers up a stash of bags of cocaine
a modern-day olive branch - and invites them all to luciano's place
he plucks a goat from luciano's herd to be butchered for a large lunch
it's all a bit tense during the meal with luciano offended at their presence
the rivals not happy either - soon after luigi is shot multiple times in his car
no-one claiming responsibility but it's a known - and even an acceptance
the rivals send flowers for the funeral but young leo is livid with rage
despite his father's protestations he decides to avenge his uncle's death
armed with a powerful rifle he waits for his moment in an empty house
but the rivals are on to him and he instead is gunned down mercilessly
as his father is at his own brother's funeral he senses the situation
and when told of the death he breaks down and is inconsolable
poor man - he seems quite decent but born to the wrong family
the climax now ushered in with our interest now fully piqued
luciano has had it and with the loss of his son is over it all
shoots his remaining brother rocco and several of his gang
luciano's wife seen begging him to drop the gun but no
we sense suicide - instead we see goats on a beach
being herded by a young bearded man - luciano?
an out-of-body experience is suggested - meaning...
yes - very much enjoyed this very good italian film...
