Left Field Cinema

Based on 2007's bestselling book of the same name, Gomorrah is an exposition of 'Italy's Other Mafia'. The title is a play on words with Camorra, the name by which this rampant criminal organisation are known.

Roberto Saviano, author of the book, is under 24-hour police protection from the Camorra, who reportedly want him dead by Christmas. This brutality is not softened in the film. Directed by Matteo Garrone, this is not a gangster flick that one would watch for entertainment purposes. It is a grim condemnation of the Camorra and of organised crime and it's connotations. Let's be clear - this does not have the cheer of The Sopranos, the slickness of GoodFellas or the values of The Godfather. There is not a single laugh to be had here.

Set in present-day, inner-city Naples, the narrative follows 5 interweaving stories. We have Toto, a teenage boy living in the decaying concrete apartment block, who wishes to be one of the gangsters who control it. There is Don Ciro, an aging, simplistic man who seems to be caught up in his dreadful surroundings, who delivers rations given to him by the gangs, to those in the neighborhood who are somewhat imprisoned by them. We are shown two nameless adolescent boys, who glorify the likes of Scarface and want nothing more than to run the neighbourhood, in a blind naivety that gets them in harms way. We also follow Roberto, an educated man given a job in a Camorra-ran garbage company, the scheming of which has led to the cancer rate in areas where they dump go through the roof. He is reluctant to carry out his duties but can see no alternative. The remaining story is of Pasquale, a fashion designer working for a company which hastily makes imitation designer goods at the expense of its workers. He takes a secret night job at a Chinese factory, teaching workers how to make clothes, but this means crossing the Camorra and could have horrific consequences.

It becomes apparent to us that there are two criminal factions in the neighbourhood, locked in a tense battle for supremacy. Characters Toto and Don Ciro in particular are caught in this as the film draws to a close.

This is a harrowing piece of film and the fact that it is based on true events makes it even more of a shuddering experience. The direction is beautifully bleak and we see some fantastic shots from Garonne, which convinces us as to why this film was so heavily-praised at Cannes. There is nothing in the way of glamour and this is exactly the way it should be - these are young people dying daily and a problem which has been ignored for far too long under the corrupt authorities of Naples.

It is a film-maker's film and those wanting to watch it as a killing of two hours will not be entertained as much as those into cinema as an art form. Fans of Italian Neo-Realism will notice the nods and appreciate them. Garrone has delivered his best work to date and this unrelentingly grim true story of Italy's other mafia will no doubt horrify you, but somehow leave you wanting more.

D.Crow