Il ritorno di Cagliostro

Ciprì and Maresco (previous Film Makers in Focus at this festival) provide in the form of Il ritorno di Cagliostro another hilarious film brimming with disrespectful and vulgar humour. The La Marca brothers found the Trinacria film studio to create an impressive Sicilian counterpart to Cinecittà and Hollywood. Their partners are a baron, a priest and a Mafia boss. This is never going to work and what follows is a hilarious summary of their vicissitudes, wrapped as a mockumentary. In an ultimate attempt to rival the other studios, the brothers decide to realise a major historic drama with a failed Hollywood star playing the lead (Robert Englund, also known as Freddie Krueger). Daniele Ciprì, who wields the camera this time, juxtaposes his beautifully poetic black & white pictures with colourful outbursts. As usual, the two film makers predominantly use a non-professional cast, all of them old, strong faces. The film, loosely based on a true story, is not as scandalous as their earlier work, but the film makers would be out of character if they didn’t refer to sensitive issues. Again they pillory the Catholic church and present day Italian politics is also derided. No one is spared in this very entertaining and perverse tribute to early Sicilian cinema.