​FILMS

the mafia kills only in summer

2015 review number 76:

The Mafia Kills Only in Summer: (Comedy/Drama): 50 out of 100: I usually love Italian movies but I just could not sink my teeth into this movie. It's a little bit of comedy, a little bit of crime and a little bit of drama. It's a jack of all trades, master of none. There are some moments that made me sit up and take notice but on the whole, I found this a rather lacklustre affair. The black comedy just didn't entertain me as much as I'd hope, or perhaps the subject matter just didn't interest me enough.

 

Italian TV star Pif aka Pierfrancesco Diliberto is the writer/director of this crime caper. He is also the narrator and main star. He plays the adult version of Arturo who becomes involved mainly as a witness to the dealings of the Mafia in Palermo, Sicily in the late 1970s. As a boy, Artura is played by Alex Bisconti and his fascination for Flora (Ginevra Antona-child and Cristiana Capotondi-adult) begins when he is a child. As the Mafia continues to play a role in his life, so too does his infatuation with Flora.

 

The pacing makes the film seem longer than its 89 minute running time. There are many scenes where there's basically nothing happening on the screen. A jolt of energy would have provided more life to the scenes. Pif's narration is also annoying to the point where I just wanted him to shut up. If narration is not done right then it can often be intrusive and this is definitely a case in point.

 

There are some interesting moments where real life footage of the Mafia bosses are intercut with the fictional story. Here, you get a feel of what life would have been like living in Sicily in the 1970s and 1980s. Sicily's picturesque views allow for some gazing when things become a bit boring.

 

The children who play the protagonists seem to be more interesting than the adult versions. The earlier scenes offer more substance than the flat adult relationships. The adult Artura just seems so nerdy and annoying that it's hard to imagine how anyone could like him. Then again, perhaps it was just the narration that turned me against him.

 

This is definitely not in the upper echelon of Italian films. Don't let this be the first Italian movie you will see otherwise you might never want to see another one again. Trust me, they're usually more exciting than this one!

 

Starring Pierfrancesco Diliberto and Cristiana Capotondi

(89 minutes)

Parental advice: Coarse language, violence, adult themes, sex scenes and sexual references

Additional scene during or after credits: No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58_xisFX-Ug (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Tuesday 2nd June, 2015)

 

For my latest reviews, go to this link: http://mlaimlai2.wix.com/magical-movie-review