Gomorra

Based on Roberto Saviano's 2007 bestseller, this brutal and intense saga about corruption and violence revolves around a Mafia-type organization that rules Naples, with five intersecting stories about people who believe they can “work” the system that generates over $233 billion worldwide each year. Wearing a bulletproof vest, Don Ciro (Gianfelice Imparato) delivers cash to the families of dead or imprisoned gangsters in a housing project. He's observed by 13-year-old Totò (Salvatore Abruzzese), who's eager to get into the “family” business. Older teenagers Marco (Marco Macor) and Ciro (Ciro Petrone) are delusional rebels, Franco (Toni Servillo) is a cocky businessman who hires college-educated Roberto (Carmine Paternoster) to dump toxic waste in the district around Campania, and Pasquale (Salvatore Cantalupo), a master tailor, makes clandestine midnight treks to teach Chinese competitors the intricacies of haute couture. Director-cinematographer Matteo Garrone has crafted a gritty, convoluted film about power struggles that would have been less confusing if he had differentiated the characters more clearly. The title is not only a reference to the biblical city; it's also a play on the word “Camorra,” referring to the Neapolitan criminal conspiracy. The film concludes with a declaration that the Camorra syndicate has caused 4,000 deaths in the last 30 years, funneling money into both illegal and legal enterprises—including the rebuilding of Manhattan's World Trade Center towers—while infiltrating the transport, tourism, textiles, and banking industries. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “Five Stories” making-of documentary (63 min.), a video interview with writer Roberto Saviano (43 min.), interviews with director Matteo Garrone (23 min.) and costar Toni Servillo (14 min.), deleted scenes (13 min.), a short segment featuring costars Servillo, Gianfelice Imparato, and Salvatore Cantalupo (11 min.), trailers, and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Chuck Stephens. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a solid foreign film.] (S. Granger)