The Funeral

The gangster family Tempio has come together for the memorial service for the young murder victim Johnny (Vincent Gallo). Then flowers are brought in from Spoglia, their sworn enemy. Johnny’s brothers Ray (Christopher Walken) and Chez (Chris Penn) want revenge. As the funeral ritual continues, the spectator can share Ray’s memories of family matters, gangster scenes and bloodshed in flashbacks. Ray has always been the strongest brother; he kept everyone more or less in line. Chez is one and all caprice, he is sensitive with an explosive temper. Their wives, Jeanette (Annabella Sciorra) and Clara (Isabella Rossellini), worry about the continual threat of violence hanging over them. However Johnny is the one who causes the most trouble. He is clever and idealistic, feels attracted to Communism and sees his family’s involvement with the trade unions as a noble act. But Johnny soon finds out that these two worlds cannot co-exist peacefully.Rotterdam audiences have already been able to enjoy to the full Ferrara’s oeuvre, that is characterised by moral ambiguity, violence and an emphasis on the inner and outer shadow sides of human existence. The Funeral is a logical consequence within this oeuvre and is one of Ferrara’s best films. Helped by a beautiful cast he explores the self-destructive sides of the Cosa Nostra.