Sorrentino last year made a second Italian film about the close connections between politics and Mafia practices, one that just like Gomorrah was highly regarded. Il divo is a daring above-average stylised biographical film about the former (seven-times) Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti. After his last term in office, this born politician, who had for more than sixty years left his impression on Italian politics, became involved in a court case about his alleged links to the Mafia and the murder of an investigative journalist. Andreotti has been a member of Parliament since 1945, saw 33 governments pass, and was appointed a senator for life in 1991, as a result of which he has enjoyed political immunity ever since. The court case was followed by acquittal on appeal because the alleged criminal connections had lapsed. Sorrentino allows the leader of the Democristiani, like a spider in the complex web of Italian political norms, to lay his path with apparent commitment but basically utter coldness. With an urgent soundtrack and very masterful camerawork, Sorrentino leaves no doubt about how many strings Andreotti could pull. Il divo links Andreotti to countless other accused politicians and businessmen and also provides a revealing picture of 60 years of Italian ‘democracy’. (EH)
Film details
- Countries of production
- France, Italy
- Year
- 2008
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2009
- Length
- 110'
- Medium/Format
- 35mm
